Sounds of the American Goldfinch

Carduelis tristis

Shortcut: Per-chik-or-ree (while flying); Also: bay-bee

Song: Males give high-pitched canary-like songs early in the spring and late in the summer during nesting. Early songs are rambling and continuous; during nesting they are short and precise, somewhat resembling the songs of Indigo Buntings.

Call: The goldfinch has a distinctive year-round flight call that sounds like per-chik-or-ree. Another common call is a nasal, ascending su-weet that signals agitation or conflict with another goldfinch. Around the nest, both sexes give a special bay-bee alarm call. Fledglings give a distinctive, peeping chip-ee, chip-ee, chip-ee, as they beg for attention.