What does the American Goldfinch flight call sound like?

Spinus tristis

Flight Call Common

Play the real American Goldfinch flight call, the "po-ta-to-chip!", and learn what to listen for.

“po-ta-to-chip!”

What the American Goldfinch flight call sounds like

The famous call from birds bounding overhead in their rise-and-dip flight. Once you learn it, you start hearing goldfinches before you see them.

“po-ta-to-chip!”

Birders often file this one under Classic flight call.

Flight Call vs. song: telling the two apart

The same bird makes both. They sound nothing alike.

The flight call (this page)

The famous call from birds bounding overhead in their rise-and-dip flight. Once you learn it, you start hearing goldfinches before you see them.

“po-ta-to-chip!”

The song

A loose, cheerful string of twitters, warbles, and airy trills. It runs longer than the flight call and sounds a little improvised, like a sunny musical ramble.

“sweet-sweet-sweet, ti-di-di, chee-ree!”

Where you'll hear it

Look in weedy fields, brushy roadsides, open woodland edges, and sunny backyards with seed feeders. They love patches of thistle, sunflower, and other seed-rich plants.

American Goldfinch flight call FAQ

What does an American Goldfinch flight call sound like?

The famous call from birds bounding overhead in their rise-and-dip flight. Once you learn it, you start hearing goldfinches before you see them. Birders write it as "po-ta-to-chip!".

How do I tell an American Goldfinch from a Lesser Goldfinch by ear?

Lesser Goldfinch: Smaller overall, with a shorter tail and a more compact look.; Males often show a dark back instead of being bright yellow all over..

When is the best time to hear the American Goldfinch flight call?

They nest later than many songbirds, often waiting until midsummer when seed crops peak. In winter they gather in chatty flocks and show up regularly at feeders.

More American Goldfinch sounds

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