European Goldfinch in Valhalla, New York (1 Viewer)

[fishercl]

I've had this European Goldfinch hanging out with the American Goldfinches in my yard for the past week. Not sure where it came from, but glad to see it found the other finches.

 

[birdpotter]

I wonder if it is an escapee?

 

[Dingoblu]

I wonder if it is an escapee?

Just curious as to where in NY you are. I'm in Massena, maybe if you are close by we can hook up for some birding.

 

[A CHAPLIN]

European Goldfinch

I've had this European Goldfinch hanging out with the American Goldfinches in my yard for the past week. Not sure where it came from, but glad to see it found the other finches.

Hi there,

Thank you for posting your story and photo. I have often wondered what would happen if our European Goldfinches met the American ones. Now I know they get on. Europeans can be feisty little things and seem to have a pecking order as to who sits where on the feeders. One minute all is peaceful then one will decide to move in and there will be whirring cloud of wings while they have a bit of a sort out (tiff), the noise is fantastic for such small birds, then they all settle down again until another one tries to muscle in.

Thanks again

Ann

 

[fishercl]

I wonder if it is an escapee?

I agree, it must be an escapee. I'm just impressed that it found the American Goldfinches and hangs out exclusively with them. It doesn't hang out with the house finches or any of the other birds in the yard, just the goldfinches. Hopefully it'll stick around for awhile.

 

[david2004]

Would have thought it was an escapee. My Goldies have disappeared, but I saw them around (though not at my house) yesterday! Maybe they prefer it in NY and are all coming over there! Lol.

 

[birdpotter]

I agree, it must be an escapee. I'm just impressed that it found the American Goldfinches and hangs out exclusively with them. It doesn't hang out with the house finches or any of the other birds in the yard, just the goldfinches. Hopefully it'll stick around for awhile.

It is pretty neat that it hooked up with its American counterparts, so to speak. And is exclusive. It will be interesting to see if it does hang around. There's no reason for it not too, right? Good weather, good food and good company!

E

 

[alan_rymer]

It is pretty neat that it hooked up with its American counterparts, so to speak. And is exclusive. It will be interesting to see if it does hang around. There's no reason for it not too, right? Good weather, good food and good company!

E

Its different, It sticks out, and sooner or later will end up Accipiter food!. ( Unfortunate but true, happens all the time over here ).

 

[fishercl]

It is pretty neat that it hooked up with its American counterparts, so to speak. And is exclusive. It will be interesting to see if it does hang around. There's no reason for it not too, right? Good weather, good food and good company!

E

It is still hanging around, and now there are two, or at least I have seen (and photographed) two at once ... maybe there are more. Perhaps little ones in the future?

 

[gthang]

I live in Stormville, which is about 30-45 minutes northwards.

Can I come over someday, and see him? Alas, he's probably an escapee, according to Sibley guide.

 

[gthang]

And now that I've read the rest of the thread, there's more than one???

Could still be escapees, but the occurence of two could also mean that they could've been blown over the "pond" by the storm that sent the Norweigan Dawn cruise ship back to Manhattan. It is possible ever since the sighting of the Red-Footed Falcon last summer.

and tp20uk, I do wish they'd come over, just not all of them. We have enough American Goldfinches around that I consider them nuisances. I once counted at least 17 fighting for feeder spots in my backyard last year... and roughly the same amount in Purple finches (10 female, 5 male; hmmm, sounds like us humans!)

 

[gthang]

Hi there,

Thank you for posting your story and photo. I have often wondered what would happen if our European Goldfinches met the American ones. Now I know they get on. Europeans can be feisty little things and seem to have a pecking order as to who sits where on the feeders. One minute all is peaceful then one will decide to move in and there will be whirring cloud of wings while they have a bit of a sort out (tiff), the noise is fantastic for such small birds, then they all settle down again until another one tries to muscle in.

Thanks again

Ann

Hey, ann!

Sounds like what the American goldfinches do. Yep, very similar behavior, They are both finches after all.

 

[fishercl]

Update - "my" European goldfinch is back ...

I've had this European Goldfinch hanging out with the American Goldfinches in my yard for the past week. Not sure where it came from, but glad to see it found the other finches.

I had the European goldfinch in my yard from April through August of 2005, then it was gone ... I thought for good. Not sure where it went ... but it's back. I first saw it in March and he/she (I haven't figured that out yet) continues to come daily. How lucky am I?

 

[KnockerNorton]

It's definately a male. The red bulges out behind the eye, and the nasal hairs look very dark.

 

[gizzagadget]

It's definately a male. The red bulges out behind the eye, and the nasal hairs look very dark.

I have a coupe of queries if you could excuse my ignorance, but I was watching goldfinches in a local churchyard at the weekend.
1) what do you mean by escapee? from plane or ship?
2)surely a tiny finch could not manage passage accross the atlantic by storm?
3)is the north american goldfinch different at all from our European finch?

regards
dave

 

[OwlTalon]

North American goldfinch much different from yours. Male all yellow, with black cap and wings. Cute little bird.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Goldfinch.html[/url]

Lots of birds get brought across by storms, it happens. It could have also been an escaped pet, though I don't know anyone with a pet goldfinch.

 

[jedku]

European Goldfinches are imported to the USA & bred as pets, unfortunately. I read once about an importer located in northern Illinois whose escapees accounted for an abnormally high number of sightings over the years in that area.
There is a market for "exotic finches." It's really a shame.
I don't know how this bird came to NY though.....
Marc

 

[OwlTalon]

It is possible it got blown here. I mean, its more likely it escaped, but it's not out of the realm of possibilty it came across the sea.

 

[Chris Oates]

I have a coupe of queries if you could excuse my ignorance, but I was watching goldfinches in a local churchyard at the weekend.
1) what do you mean by escapee? from plane or ship?
2)surely a tiny finch could not manage passage accross the atlantic by storm?
3)is the north american goldfinch different at all from our European finch?

regards
dave

1. escaped from a private collection
2. all manner of birds get blown across the atlantic from America all the time
...in Cornwall we've had American wigeon, Green-winged teal, Long-billed dowitcher, American herring gull, Laughing gull, American robin to name but a few.
The reverse trip to America sounds rather unlikely as the jet stream and prevailing winds blow west to east - an area of low pressure circulating anti-clockwise in the Atlantic could help a bird across the Atlantic but I don't remember them being big enough to span the entire ocean.
3. Yep

 

[KnockerNorton]

It could easily have hitched a ride on a ship. Many birds do.