Male eastern goldfinch amongst the thistles; photo by Jen Goellnitz on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / no derivative works).
Official State Bird of New Jersey
New Jersey designated the eastern goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) as the official state bird in 1935 (also the bird symbol of Iowa and Washington). All State Birds
Eastern Goldfinch Facts
Also called wild canary, American goldfinch, or willow goldfinch, the eastern goldfinch eats primarily seeds from dandelions, sunflowers, ragweed, and evening primrose. The male goldfinch has a bright yellow body with black wings and tail, and black on top of his head. The female's plumage is more muted with an olive-yellow body and dark brown tail and wings (the male goldfinch also displays this same dull plumage in the winter months).
