Observing the goldfinches in flight is soothing and enlightening, making it easy to meditate on what they symbolize ...

The brightly colored male American goldfinch is especially recognizable ... It is often heard in flight, giving distinct flight calls. Polytypic (4 named ssp.; differences slight).

The female American goldfinch is larger and has white undertail coverts, a wide buffy lower wing bar with very little white at the base for the flight feathers, and a pale pinkish bill.