The willow goldfinch, also known as the American goldfinch, is the state bird of Washington. It was named in 1951 after years of indecision. The male has a bright yellow body with black wings and forehead, while the female has olive and yellow coloration. They inhabit grassy areas and feed on thistle or sunflower seeds. They breed in shrubbery and the female weaves a small open cup nest.
Also the state bird of Iowa and New Jersey, Washington’s state bird is the willow goldfinch, also known as the American goldfinch. Sometimes called the wild canary, the willow goldfinch was officially named the state bird of Washington in 1951 after more than two decades of indecision. The scientific name of the willow goldfinch is Corduelis tristis.
In 1928, the Washington state legislature decided that Washington needed a state bird. Determining which bird, however, was no easy matter. The task was first given to the children, who wanted to adopt the western skylark. Unfortunately, the legislature was not satisfied with the lark due to its popularity in neighboring states. They continued to periodically hold various contests, never deciding on a winner, until they finally declared the willow goldfinch, a popular contender in some of the contests, as the official state bird of Washington in 1951.
Although the female willow goldfinch has olive and soft yellow coloration, the male has a bright yellow body with striking black wings and forehead. Small birds, they reach only 4.5-5.1 inches (11-13 cm) in length and weigh between 0.4 and 0.7 ounces (11-20 g). Moulting twice a year, the male goldfinch loses its bright coloration for the autumn and winter months, adopting a similar appearance to that of the female. Its brilliant coloration returns after its second moult in late winter, a sign of the approaching spring.
Active, the Washington state bird frequently flits from perch to perch and is frequently on the move. With its small stature, it can easily perch on the tops of thistles or the thin outer branches of shrubs. Its flight is erratic and bouncy.
The Washington state warbler inhabits grassy, open areas where thistle or sunflowers, its primary food source, abound. They are also often seen in roadside nests or around large lawns and golf courses and frequent bird feeders providing them with their favorite seeds. These birds are unusual because unlike many seed-eating birds which will also include insects as part of their diet, willow goldfinches never intentionally eat anything but seeds.
Breeding in June or July, willow goldfinches make their nests in shrubbery. The female spends nearly an entire week weaving plant fibers and fine roots together to create a small open cup narrow enough to hold water. The cup is then secured to a shrub using spider silk. The female incubates two to seven eggs for about two weeks. The young, born helpless, depend on their parents for the first two weeks of life.
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