Montana Field Guide

Small, 11.4 -12.8 cm.. Sexually and seasonally dimorphic. Male breeding plumage: lemon yellow; forehead, crown, and lores black; wings jet black, white tips worn; wing coverts yellow with greater coverts white tipped; tail black, white on inner webs; bill orange. Female breeding plumage is a "brighter" version of the basic plumage. Basic plumage: olive brown above, olive yellow below, shading to buff on sides and flanks; males have brighter yellow throats, jet black flight feathers, yellow or olive yellow lesser coverts, black greater coverts, tipped white; females have blackish brown flight feathers, olive lesser coverts, blackish greater coverts tipped white or buff. Both sexes are frequently misidentified in their muted winter plumages. (Middleton, Alex L. A. The Birds of North America, No 80, 1993).

In Bozeman area normal migration periods are May 20-Jun 5 and Sep 10-Oct 15.

Widely distributed in temperate North America. Common in weedy fields, river flood plains, early second growth forest, and also cultivated lands, roadsides, orchards and gardens. (Middleton 1993).

Daytime feeders, usually feed in the company of others. Seeds of many annual plants. Composites preferred. Small seeds of various trees. Insects only as encountered. (Middleton 1993).

Nests are built in shaded locations under canopy of leaves or dense cluster of needles. Clutch size varies from 2 - 7 as influenced by age, habitat, date and season. Renesting common in pairs that lose first nest.(Middleton 1993). Statewide, nesting begins in Jul and continues through Aug; young observed leaving a nest on Sep 14 in Gallatin County.