A goldfinch is a small wild bird, not a pet and not a fish. People notice it because of the bright yellow on its wings — that yellow is why gold is in the name. It belongs to the finches, a group of little seed-eating birds that sing. In Britain and much of Europe, the goldfinch has a red face, a black-and-white head, and a bar of yellow that flashes when it flies. In North America, goldfinch usually means a different bird that looks more plainly yellow. If an English book does not say American, it almost always means the European one. You meet the word in birdwatching, gardens, and poems. Goldfinches love seeds, especially from wild plants with sharp leaves. Though actually, learners often hear goldfish first and picture something in water; this one has feathers.