The Changing Seasons - Goldfinches, Redpolls, and Song Sparrows

 As part of what will likely be a lifelong effort, we are attempting to digitize historical reports of bird sightings from Newfoundland and Labrador. Ultimately, this means adding written reports to eBird whenever possible - providing a fully searchable and public database for these records. Naturally, there is great interest in records of rarities. However, just as interesting are the common species and the profound changes that birders have documented over the decades.

The written record of bird distribution is fairly comprehensive from the 1950s onwards. This series of articles will focus on notable changes over the past ~75 years that may not be obvious to the dedicated birder today. Certainly significant changes occurred prior to the 1950s but without a written report to review, those changes will remain a mystery.

Following is a breakdown of some of the most notable changes I have noted, including some theories to explain the changes. 

Note that this is the first in what will be a series of blog posts on this topic.

American Goldfinch:

This one might come as a surprise to many birders in the province. The species is an abundant year-round resident of Newfoundland, and regularly seen in the Southern-most part of Labrador. However, not too many decades ago it was far more uncommon. In 1989, Bruce Mactavish wrote that American Goldfinches "are barely an annual occurrence on the Avalon Peninsula". Nowadays, it is hard to imagine not coming across one (or a large flock) on a day of birding regardless of time of year! 

When chatting with Bruce about the change in goldfinch numbers in early 2025, he had this to say:

"I minds the time in the early 1980s getting American Goldfinch on Stop # 50 on the St. John’s BBS and thinking that was pretty good. In the same time period I remember stopping by Wigeon Pond in the Codroy in June and thinking ‘oh that’s nice to hear out here in the Valley’. And in mid 1980s had a goldfinch at my feeder all winter. It was the only bird in town. People came over to see it."

Interestingly, Birds of the World reports the following in reference to American Goldfinch historical changes in distribution:

"No major changes. With the recent increase in number of winter bird feeders, more goldfinches are overwintering in northern parts of range. Breeding Bird Survey data suggest that populations are decreasing in several parts of range, though oak savanna restoration efforts over the past 30 years have increased their abundance in the midwestern U.S."

In 1968, Les Tuck, the authority on the province's birds at that time, wrote this in reference to American Goldfinches: 

"Previously known from Newfoundland by two specimens (Peters and Burleigh, 1951), it bred at O'Regans, Codroy Valley, in 1956 and again in 1958 where I saw fledglings and caught immature birds in mist nets. My earliest date is a male at St. John's 18 April 1958. Small flocks were recorded at St. John's during July and August in 1965 and again (about 20 birds) 17 December 1965. Mrs. Reid recorded single birds at Ramea 22 September 1965 and 9 June 1966."

- Tuck, Leslie M. Recent Newfoundland Bird Records. The Auk, 85: 304-311. April, 1968.

Certainly this species has undergone a profound change in distribution and is a welcome addition to many bird feeders across the province.

American Goldfinch in its winter coat

Why have they expanded their range into NL? It's hard to say for sure but the theories most often discussed are the increasing presence of bird feeders and our warming climate. Personally, I wonder how much of it is simply due to changes that would have occurred regardless of bird feeders and the warming climate. But who knows!

Winter range map (Dec - Feb) for American Goldfinch in the past 10 years

Common Redpoll:

Now known simply as Redpoll, this species previously bred across the entire island of Newfoundland. It was even regularly found nesting in the backyards of St. John's birders. Nowadays, you would be hard-pressed to find them in the Summer on the Avalon. In fact, there are only 3 records on eBird for June/July on the Avalon peninsula in the past 10 years! They were regular breeders in the Cape Freels to Musgrave Harbour area as recently as 2015-2020; however, the number of reports coming from that area has dropped off significantly in the last 4 years. Currently, the only known breeding sites on the island are isolated to the Northern Peninsula with increasing numbers North of Gros Morne National Park to L'Anse-aux-Meadows. 

Common Redpoll in Cartwright, Labrador April 2023 sporting its raspberry blush.

Try finding one of these in Southern Newfoundland during the Summer months!

Why have they declined? Have American Goldfinches outcompeted this species and pushed them farther North? Perhaps they no longer need to come as far South as Newfoundland to breed thanks to the warming climate.

Song Sparrow:

Song Sparrow is another species that has spread across the island of Newfoundland in recent decades. 

It was only 40 years ago in 1986 that Bruce Mactavish wrote this in The Bullbird:

"Song Sparrows are hard to find on the Avalon Peninsula in the summer so one singing at Maddox Cove on June 15 was significant."

Significant! Nowadays, this is a common species across the island of Newfoundland. I bet not one of the dozens of eBirders who have reported this species from Maddox Cove-Petty Harbour in recent years thought that they were witnessing something significant. 

This species also breeds in Southern Labrador in small numbers, at least as far North as Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The high count for the province is 22 and comes from Quidi Vidi Lake where Song Sparrows always seem to be present in higher numbers than anywhere else. 

Another species that has gone from unexpected to fully expected as a year-round resident and migrant!

Song Sparrow surveying its territory in Bidgood Park, Goulds

This species is not observed at feeders as commonly as American Goldfinches. I think their range expansion is more likely due to climate change, but this is pure speculation. Others attribute the change to bird feeders. In reality, there's likely many variables involved.

What changes have you noticed in bird numbers and distributions in our province? Do you have any predictions on what might change in the next few decades?

The next article in this series will outline changes in everyone's favourite family of birds - gulls!

- Alvan