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American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

Bird · family Fringillidae · order Passeriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

American Goldfinch
Photo: Mdf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
49 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
10 years[4]

The American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is a small songbird in the finch family[5]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide and in the United States, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][6][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the American Goldfinch a global rank of G5 and a US national rank of N5, and both mean Secure[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. USFWS data show it is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where American Goldfinch lives

NatureServe lists the American Goldfinch as native in 49 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. That covers states from Maine and Florida in the east to Washington and California in the west[3]. Some states have only breeding or only winter records, and ranks differ by state[9]. A state list shows where NatureServe records the bird, not where you will be sure to see it[3].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5B,S5NMEWisconsin: native, state rank S5BWIVermont: native, state rank S5B,S5NVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: native, state rank S5B,S5NWAIdaho: native, state rank S5IDMontana: native, state rank S5BMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRBNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: native, state rank S3B,S4NNVWyoming: native, state rank S5B,S5NWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5B,S4NSDIowa: native, state rank S5B,S5NIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S4B,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S5BRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S4UTColorado: native, state rank S5CONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S5B,S5NKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: native, state rank S1B,S5NAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S2B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5B,S5NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S4N,S5BDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5NLAMississippi: native, state rank S5BMSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S2B,S5NTXFlorida: native, state rank SNRNFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (49 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaS1B,S5NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS5Secure
ConnecticutS5BSecure (breeding)
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS4N,S5BApparently Secure (nonbreeding), Secure (breeding)
FloridaSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
LouisianaS5NSecure (nonbreeding)
MaineS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5BSecure (breeding)
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
MontanaS5BSecure (breeding)
NebraskaS5Secure
NevadaS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS2B,S5NImperiled (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
North DakotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS4Apparently Secure
PennsylvaniaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS5BSecure (breeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS5B,S4NSecure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS2B,S5NImperiled (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
UtahS4Apparently Secure
VermontS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS5BSecure (breeding)
WyomingS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitat types for this bird. They include hardwood woodland, shrubland, grassland, old fields, cropland and hedgerows, suburbs and orchards, and streamside woods[10]. Its notes tie the bird to weedy fields, farmland, forest edges and shrubby areas[11]. Nests are usually in small trees or bushes, and sometimes in thistles near the ground[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

The American Goldfinch is a granivore, which means it mostly eats seeds[12]. NatureServe notes seeds from trees such as birches and alders, and from plants such as thistles and goldenrod, plus some berries and insects[13]. Adults are about 13 cm (5 in) long[14]. They weigh about 13 g[15]. A clutch is usually 5 eggs, and incubation lasts about 13 days in AnAge data[16][17]. The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 13 years, and the oldest known wild bird from banding records was at least 10 years 11 months old[18][4].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 13 cm (5 in)
Typical adult weight[15] 13 g (0.5 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[18] 13 years
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 10 years 11 months
Litter or clutch size[16] 5
Gestation or incubation[17] 13 days
Female maturity[19] 363 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[12] Granivore
Migration[20] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

When to look for it

The American Goldfinch is diurnal, which means it is active in the daytime[21]. Northern birds migrate, while southern breeders stay all year[22]. Movements peak in two windows, one from mid-April into early June and one from late October into mid-December[22]. Exact timing varies across its range[22]. Most GBIF records fall in April, May and August, but records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[23].

January: 1,064,130 recordsJanFebruary: 1,225,218 recordsFebMarch: 974,745 recordsMarApril: 1,902,815 recordsAprMay: 2,688,960 recordsMayJune: 1,407,571 recordsJunJuly: 1,428,783 recordsJulAugust: 1,526,912 recordsAugSeptember: 1,304,993 recordsSepOctober: 977,376 recordsOctNovember: 976,373 recordsNovDecember: 982,456 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[23].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January1,064,130
February1,225,218
March974,745
April1,902,815
May2,688,960
June1,407,571
July1,428,783
August1,526,912
September1,304,993
October977,376
November976,373
December982,456

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record American Goldfinch as present in 54 park units[24]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 30 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, Michigan[25]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the American Goldfinch endangered?
No. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide and in the United States[2][6], and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[1].
Where does the American Goldfinch live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 49 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. Habitats include weedy fields, farmland, forest edges and suburbs[10][11].
What does the American Goldfinch eat?
It mostly eats seeds, such as those from birches, alders, thistles and goldenrod, with some berries and insects[13][12].
How big is an American Goldfinch?
Adults are about 13 cm (5 in) long[14]. They weigh about 13 g[15].
How long does an American Goldfinch live?
The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 13 years[18]. The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 10 years 11 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. American Goldfinch is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for American Goldfinch: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists American Goldfinch as native in 49 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild American Goldfinch from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 10 years 11 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is a bird in the family Fringillidae, order Passeriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. American Goldfinch is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe state ranks for American Goldfinch (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for American Goldfinch: Woodland - hardwood, Shrubland/chaparral, Grassland/herbaceous, Old field, Cropland/hedgerow, Suburban/orchard, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for American Goldfinch. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Granivore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for American Goldfinch. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 13 cm (5 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 13 g (0.5 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 5. AnAge
  17. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 13 days. AnAge
  18. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 13 years. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  19. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 363 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  20. NatureServe migration category for American Goldfinch: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  21. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  22. NatureServe notes on migration for American Goldfinch. NatureServe Explorer
  23. GBIF observation records of American Goldfinch in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  24. NPSpecies park lists recording American Goldfinch as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  25. US states with the most GBIF observation records of American Goldfinch: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, Michigan. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Mdf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.