If you are in North America, you will not find a goldfinch with a speck of red on them anywhere. (I am sorry this sounds so stiff – for a technical reason I can not write this post with apostrophes.)

Not at any age, no matter male nor female.

Sometimes other finches will travel with goldfinches – which is where the confusion may come in – I often see the Purple Finches travelling with the American Goldfinches.

Again, it is all a matter of your location. There are other finches with red coloration in other parts of the Americas.

At any rate, there are only 3 Goldfinches in the US and Canada.

The Lesser Goldfinch – known in the south western states and Mexico. The female is not as striking as the male, but still quite pretty.

Lawrences Goldfinch – only found on the coast of California. The female does not have his black head, nor as much yellow through the wing tips.

The American Goldfinch – migrating throughout the USA and southern Canada. The female is simply a washed out version of the male – where he has black, she has grey.

I am hoping this helps clear up any confusion.

Veronica
http://www.attractwildbirds.com

p.s. There is a close up photo of a male American Goldfinch here as well as both males and females at the feeder on that page.

Where are you located? Wild finches may not be present in your area right now.

If they are, and you’re getting some, but you want more to finches to visit, add a bird bath or dripper to your yard and you’ll get plenty more birds at the feeder as well!

see:

http://www.attractwildbirds.com/birdbaths/bird-bath-dripper.htm

Thanks for dropping me a note!

Veronica

Thanks