goldfinch
Americannoun
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a European finch, Carduelis carduelis, having a crimson face and wings marked with yellow.
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any of certain related American finches of the genus Carduelis, as C. tristis, the male of which has yellow body plumage in the summer.
noun
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a common European finch, Carduelis carduelis, the adult of which has a red-and-white face and yellow-and-black wings
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any of several North American finches of the genus Spinus, esp the yellow-and-black species S. tristis
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of goldfinch
before 1000; Middle English; Old English goldfinc. See gold, finch
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A male and a female goldfinch, white-breasted nuthatches, slate-colored juncos, chickadees and tufted titmice were just some we could name.
From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2023
He also cited a famous photograph of Pius XII with a goldfinch perched on his finger.
From New York Times ● Jan. 6, 2022
Why do they describe these as “canary” yellow, when even novice bird-watchers know the hue is much closer to a warbler or immature goldfinch?
From Washington Post ● Mar. 26, 2020
At Dick and Karen Hobbins’ home the group added a few more species, including goldfinch, Stellar’s jay and downy woodpecker.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 26, 2017
In his ear, Asta, in the form of a goldfinch, whispered, “They already knew about the nuns.”
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
This past summer, hummingbirds, monarch butterflies and pairs of goldfinches zipped between the Jacobses’ garden and his.
From New York Times ● Dec. 3, 2021
The most chaotic birds overall are probably the goldfinches and their cousins, the pine siskins, Miller said.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 28, 2021
Species that, decades ago, were rarely seen in gardens - like goldfinches and wood pigeons - are now regular visitors.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2021
The last of the nesters — goldfinches, bluebirds — are seeing off their offspring.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 24, 2021
Her face is so pale that the bruises under her eyes look bright as goldfinches.
From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
