 The American goldfinch ( Spinus tristis ) , also known as the eastern goldfinch or " lightning bird , " is a small North American bird in the finch family . It is migratory , ranging from mid @-@ Alberta to North Carolina during the breeding season , and from just south of the Canadian border to Mexico during the winter . The only other goldfinch that occurs in North America is the lesser goldfinch , which is found in Mexico and Central America .
 Einzeln , the male has a black cap and a red face. The female has a duller yellow face and lacks the black cap. The American goldfinch is the official