Goldfinches (photo by Kenn Stearns)

Around this time each year we put out thistle seed in our backyard to attract goldfinches. Earlier today these three goldfinches were at one of our feeders. In a month or so their coloring will intensify.

Formal goldfinch names include the American Goldfinch, Eastern Goldfinch, and Wild Canary. The American or Eastern Goldfinch is the state bird of Iowa, New Jersey, and Washington. The goldfinches at our feeders seem to arrive and depart in groups. We provide thistle in a sock feeder and in the vertical thistle feeder shown above.