Spring is in the air.. I can feel it and as I watch the birds, I can see it! The American Goldfinch is the only finch in it's subfamily that undergoes a complete molt. The male is a vibrant yellow in the summer and in winter loses it's black cap and turns to a drab yellow-brown. Why they undergo this change is unknown... It's most likely a camouflage protection to hide from predators, but bright feathers don't seem to detour the Cardinals, Bluebirds and Blue-jays that visit my feeders throughout the winter months. Whatever the reason, I view the Goldfinch's seasonal change as a welcomed sign that spring will once again awaken my garden with color...
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| American Goldfinch-showing the beginnings of its spring color change. |
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| American Goldfinch-with its bright summer feathers blending in perfectly among the sunflowers! |
I love goldfinches, one of the few birds I can identify. An old neighbor of mine, now gone, used to call them wild canaries, which I enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteWe get a bunch of them every summer. Spring, what's that?
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post!!! I have lots of goldfinches but never knew the males molted. I just thought all the goldfinches at my feeders in the winter were female. :o) congrats on the Stylish Blogger Award. Your blog is awesome!! Have you ever stopped by the wonderful blog Deb's Garden? She's also a nurse.
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