08/30/2026
It’s goldfinch season. This baby was bought to us after being caught by a cat. After a round of antibiotics he’s feeling better and enthusiastically peeping for food.💛
Goldfinch nesting season coincides with thistle seed production. They use the soft, fluffy white "thistledown" attached to the seeds to line their woven nests. Because they rely so much on this material, goldfinches are among the latest-breeding songbirds, waiting until late summer when thistles finally go to seed.
New England is home to several valuable native thistle species in the genus Cirsium. Unlike invasive European types such as the bull thistle, native thistles do not take over whole fields. They provide vital nectar for bees, butterflies, and food for birds.
Common Native New England Thistles:
🌸Swamp Thistle (Cirsium muticum): Grows up to eight feet tall with pink or purple flowers. Found in wet soils and damp woods.
🌸Pasture Thistle (Cirsium pumilum): Features large, fragrant pink-purple flowers. Found in dry fields and open pastures across New England.
🌸Field Thistle (Cirsium discolor): Features deep pink or purple flowers and white, woolly undersides on the leaves. Found in fields and along roadsides.
🌸Yellow Thistle (Cirsium horridulum): A rare, spiny coastal plant with yellowish or purple flowers, often found near salt marshes.
Native vs. Invasive:
🌿Underside of leaves: Native species often have a white, fuzzy, or woolly look underneath.
🌿Stems: Invasive thistles like the bull thistle often have prickly, winged stems running down the plant, while native species have cleaner stems.
Growth habit: Native thistles grow from single seeds or taproots rather than spreading aggressively via underground roots like the invasive Canada thistle.
