New Jersey State Bird: American Goldfinchd
Fact-checked • Updated November 27, 2025
New Jersey State Bird – American Goldfinchd
New Jersey designated the American Goldfinch as its official state bird in 1935. Residents see these small finches in every season. Males shift to a bright yellow plumage each spring. Light bodies move in a bouncing flight pattern while they give a clear per-chick-o-ree call.
Why New Jersey Chose This Bird
Garden clubs supported the American Goldfinch in the 1930s. Schoolchildren joined the effort. The bird visited feeders across New Jersey year-round. Legislators picked a species residents knew well.
Goldfinches lived in every county by 1935. They ate thistle seeds from roadside weeds. Farm fields provided dandelion seeds in summer. The species stayed through winter instead of migrating south like most birds.
Many states picked rare birds. New Jersey chose a common one. Yellow males appeared in gardens each spring. People saw them at feeders regularly. A familiar bird won the vote.
Legislative History
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The 1935 Campaign
Students across New Jersey voted for their favorite bird in early 1935. Teachers organized the informal poll through classroom participation. American Goldfinch won by a wide margin. The legislature formalized the designation that same year without recorded opposition.
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Official Recognition
New Jersey law established the American Goldfinch as the state bird in 1935. No specific adoption date appears in historical records beyond the year. Iowa had already chosen the same species in 1933. Washington added it later in 1951, making three states total.
What This Bird Represents
Resilience and Adaptability
American Goldfinches stay put when other birds migrate south. They handle New Jersey winters without leaving. Diet shifts from insects to seeds when cold arrives. You see them at feeders during January snowstorms, adapted but not gone.
Agricultural Connection
Farmers valued goldfinches for eating weed seeds throughout growing seasons. Thistle, dandelion, and ragweed all provided natural food sources. Fields stayed cleaner without chemical controls. Free pest management influenced the choice during Depression-era agriculture.
Physical Characteristics
Seasonal Plumage Changes
Breeding males molt into bright yellow by April. Black cap covers the crown. Wings stay black with bold white bars year-round. Small conical bill cracks seeds efficiently.
Winter and Female Appearance
Males lose yellow feathers after summer. They turn dull olive-brown by October. Females never develop bright colors. Both sexes keep distinctive wing bars. Size? Smaller than a sparrow, about the length of your palm.
Behavior and Song
Flight and Feeding Patterns
Watch goldfinches bounce through the air in deep waves. They call constantly while flying. Flocks land on seed heads, bending stems down to reach food. Acrobatic feeding lets them hang upside-down on swaying thistle plants.
Vocal Communication
The signature call sounds like per-chick-o-ree or po-ta-to-chip. Males sing from high perches during breeding season. Canary-like warbles mix with buzzy notes. What's the contact call? A simple ti-di-di-di keeps flocks together while feeding.
Habitat and Range
New Jersey Distribution
American Goldfinches occupy all 21 counties year-round. Open habitats attract them: farms, meadows, parks, suburban yards. They avoid dense forests. Weedy fields provide prime territory. Backyard feeders supplement natural food during lean months.
Nesting Requirements
Goldfinches nest late compared to other songbirds. June and July mark peak breeding. Why wait? Thistle down lines nests, and thistles bloom in summer. Females weave tight cups in shrubs or small trees. Cottonwood fluff serves as backup nest material.
Interesting Facts
Fact 1 of 6
American Goldfinches are strict vegetarians, one of the few finch species that never feed insects to their young. Parents regurgitate seeds for nestlings instead.
American Goldfinchd Songs & Calls
Hear the clear whistles and sharp calls of the American Goldfinchd. These field recordings capture their distinctive voice in natural habitat.
Audio licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Also the State Bird of:
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records and scientific databases.
Comprehensive species information from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Official state government documentation of New Jersey symbols • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Detailed field identification and behavior information • Accessed: November 30, 2025
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