Bird Description

Common, familiar, and beloved bird, found at feeders, on thistles, sunflowers, and hedgerows, at roadsides, on farmland, and in weedy fields. Feeds quietly, often hidden in tall grasses or on the ground, before suddenly flying off, usually a short distance away, always twittering as it goes with its characteristic, exaggeratedly bouncy flight. Mostly found in pairs or small groups. In late fall many n. populations move s., traveling during the day in compact flocks. Small broad wings and forked tail, combined with undulating flight, make it distinctive at long range. Song: a long fast ramble of jumbled sweet twitters. Call: a choo leee. Flight call: a te de de. ID: A small neat-looking bird. Plump with a short forked tail and triangular bill. Bold wing bars. Ad ? br: familiar black and yellow. Wing feathers fade quickly and wing bars become worn. Molts in fall into a very different-looking plumage with duller bill. Nonbr ?: broad wing bars, brown back, pale yellow on head and underparts. Ad ? br: pale yellow below and variably brown or green above with an orange bill. Nonbr ?: similar to nonbr ? but lacks yellow head.