The state bird of New Jersey is the eastern goldfinch, which lives in northern regions of the US and Canada, feeds on seeds, and prefers wild meadows. The male has bright yellow plumage with black wing tips and tail, while the female is slightly darker with brown wing tips and tail. They are monogamous and eat mostly seeds.
New Jersey’s state bird is the eastern goldfinch. This bird lives mainly in the northern regions of the United States and Canada. It feeds on a variety of seeds, and prefers the open spaces of wild meadows. This bird became the state bird of New Jersey in January of 1935. New Jersey became the 45th state in the United States to declare a state bird. The eastern goldfinch is also claimed by the state of Iowa.
The state bird of New Jersey is also sometimes referred to as an American goldfinch or wild canary. During the mating season, the goldfinch tends to stay in areas between Canada and North Carolina. This season often begins in mid to late July and coincides with the height of the bird feeding season. When the weather starts to get cold, the birds migrate south from Canada and travel as far as Mexico. Both males and females of the species also darken in their colors during this migration period.
The male eastern goldfinch is typically recognizable by its bright yellow plumage, covered in black wing tips and tail that are often crisscrossed with brilliant white streaks. It also appears to have black markings on the top of its head extending towards its bill. The female Eastern Goldfinch has more muted colors than her male counterpart. Her coloration is slightly darker, appearing a little olive, and she has brown, rather than black, wing tips and tail. The female of the species has no markings on the top of the head or around the face.
This bird eats a diet that consists mostly of seeds. Dandelions, thistles, ragweed, sunflowers, and evening primrose are among her most common food choices. The conical-shaped bill of the Eastern Goldfinch lends itself to cracking the hard shell of the seed to extract the sweet flesh inside. The bird’s small, nimble claws are also uniquely designed to hold onto the delicate stalks of these seeds as it eats. These plants are often found in open wild grassland spaces, where these birds are most frequently found.
The New Jersey state bird is primarily monogamous, choosing one mate for life. These two birds can produce multiple broods in their time together. Their eggs appear off-white and have brown speckles towards the larger end of the egg. They are largely bulbous in shape and taper to a small rounded point at the opposite end.
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