BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Birding What kind of bird is this?

Hi Lisa!

I saw 2 small birds this morning flying around my flower garden. They were very small, and bright yellow in color, with black wings and black beaks. Looked to be male and female, as the one bird was a lot brighter looking than the other.

Never in my life have I seen birds this beautiful before! I would love to have them stay for a while! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Any idea about what they might be, and if so, can I do anything to "convince" them to stay? LOL!

Thanks! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hi Chris...those would be Goldfinches. If you put out a thistle feeder (also called Niger seed) they will love you forever... <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Depending on where you live, they may stay around all winter, but will not be as yellow as they are now. I live in central NY, and we have goldfinches year round.

Thanks for the help! I live in southern/central NJ, so hopefully if I pit out the seed you recommended, I can keep them around. I would love it!

Thanks again! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I think the goldfinches I have seen have yellow beaks. I'll look again tomorrow!

Yup, definitely sound like goldfinches. They LOVE thistle so just get a thistle feeder and they should be happy year-round <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1584.asp

That's it! That's my bird!!! Thanks everyone. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Aren't they beautiful? They like to flock, so if you get this pair to stay around and they have kids, soon you'll have a whole little swarm of bright yellow in your back yard <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

They're actually year round in Mass so I bet they're year round near you too. In the winter they get to be dull grey so you might not even really notice them. It's only in the spring and summer that they turn that brilliant yellow.