Waiting for take-off with the fledgling American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch (Passeridae) is a relatively common migratory bird in Pennsylvania. Breeding takes place relatively late in the year, coinciding with an abundance of one of their main food sources, thistle seeds. Females lay four to six eggs in an open cup nest and incubate for 10 to 12 days. The young fledge within 11 to 17 days. Prior to fledging, the warm insulating down feathers must be replaced with flight feathers. The bird pictured is in the molting process and is not yet capable of flight. During the fledging period, the father's duties greatly increase as they must locate their young and feed them. This continues until the molting process is complete and the young are fully capable of flight.

Image by Ben Jellen, WPC Endangered Species Biologist/Herpetologist.

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