Male
Female
Description
Size: 4.5”
Plumage/Description: Male plumage includes a solid black cap and a lemon-yellow throat, breast and belly. Tail and wings black with white markings. Back varies in color from a yellowish to an olive-green color, and sometimes even black. Females by comparison are muted in color, lacking the intense yellow, and the black on the head and in the tail and wings. Juveniles and females are similar in color—ranging from a dull yellow to an olive-green color.
Habitat: Suburban, Residential, Oak/Chaparral, Pinyon/Juniper, Ponderosa/Coniferous, Riparian/Deciduous
Time of year: Year-round
Relative Abundance: Common
Behavior: One of the most common backyard bird species found in Yavapai County. Readily frequents Nyjer/thistle
feeders and sunflower chip feeders. Easily attracted to the yard with a thistle ‘sock’ or other type of thistle feeder. Also attracted to the yard with water features—particularly moving water in the way of fountains and recirculating ponds and waterfalls. A partial migrator—more common in summer than in winter.
Diet: Seeds, Insects, Plant products such as leaves, buds, flower petals, etc.
Similar species: American Goldfinch
Best Sites: Watson Woods, Granite Creek Park, Stricklin Park, Cottonwood Peninsula at Willow Lake
