Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Starting in 1927, state birds began to be selected by states. The first states to adopt a state bird were Alabama, Florida, Maine, ...

On a windy spring day in Iowa, the American goldfinch frequently darts through the gray sky with a quick burst of yellow and a looping flight over last year’s corn stalks. The bird’s presence feels ...

American goldfinch, Spinus tristis (formerly, Carduelis tristis and Astragalinus tristis), also known as the eastern goldfinch and wild canary, photographed in Boulder, Colorado, USA. Image: Alek O.

The Spinus tristis, eastern goldfinch, and wild canary, are all names for a small finch that inhabits much of North America. The goldfinch’s selection reflected everyday experience rather than grand ...