Goldfinch Photos

I mentioned that yesterday I spotted the first American Goldfinches of the spring out by the feeders mixing it up with the Common Redpolls. While I didn't get the camera out rapidly enough for the first sighting, the birds did return later in the afternoon and I was able to snap a few photos of them. Only one Goldfinch had noticeably begun to change into his mating plumage, however. The others were still rather drab except for their very black wings and very white wing bars.

Whether these birds will stay around here or fly further north to breed is academic. Like the Robins, they should have been here all winter but those that do stick around often fly further north to do their thing. And, as they fly further north, birds that flew further south often take their place on the local scene.

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch. Note he's still got an olive-green back.
That will gradually change to bright yellow as we move through
April and into the May nesting season.

American Goldfinch stocking up on sunflower seeds at the feeder.