---
title: "All About Birds: American Goldfinch"
---

[![cornell lab](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-292886470.png?width=527&height=99&name=file-292886470.png "cornell lab")](http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478)

## American Goldfinch 

## ![American_Goldfinch63_Pamela_Wertz_LA_2012](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-228235608.jpg)

 © Pamela Wertz

| ![what_they_eat](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-219239072.jpg?width=106&height=182&name=file-219239072.jpg) | **What they eat:** These birds prefer to eat seeds, choosing nyjer and sunflower at feeders. Tube, hopper, and platform feeders are best at attracting American Goldfinches. |
| --- | --- |
| ![how_they_sound](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-218885748.jpg?width=194&height=182&name=file-218885748.jpg "how_they_sound") | **Where they live: **Weedy fields and open woodland are the most common places to find these birds. They are found coast to coast in the U.S., reaching down to northeastern Mexico in the nonbreeding season and up to southern Canada while breeding. |
| **![where_they_live](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-219130301.jpg?width=93&height=79&name=file-219130301.jpg "where_they_live")** | **Did you know? **Goldfinches are among the very few true vegans in the bird world, eating little more than seeds at any time of year. |
| **![did_you_know](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-218887603.jpg?width=118&height=87&name=file-218887603.jpg)** | **How they sound:** This bird's most common call is its contact call, which sounds like it is quietly saying *po-ta-to-chip* with a very even cadence.  |

 

**![sound](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-230263965.jpg?width=19&height=17&name=file-230263965.jpg) [Listen to the American Goldfinch](https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/hs-fs/hub/95627/file-232076179-mp3/American_Goldfinch.mp3?hsLang=es).**

** **

**To learn more, visit the Cornell Lab's free website: [www.allaboutbirds.org](http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_goldfinch/id).**

** **

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