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Carduelis tristis
The male in breeding plumage is bright yellow with a black forehead, wings, and tail. He has one white wing-bar on each wing and white on his tail. Outside of the breeding season, the male is drab brown with hints of yellow and white wing-bars. In both breeding and non-breeding plumage, he has white undertail coverts contrasting with the yellow undertail coverts of the Lesser Goldfinch. The female in breeding plumage is yellowish-gray-brown on top and varies in color from bright yellow to dull yellow underneath. She has two light wing-bars on each wing and a light-colored bill. Her tail is black with white outer tips. Outside of the breeding season, she is gray above and below, and has less distinct wing-bars and a darker bill.
American Goldfinches can generally be found in brushy and weedy habitats at the edges of fields, rivers, and hedgerows, especially when thistle is present. Suburban gardens, poplar plantations, orchards, and other brushy areas with scattered deciduous trees are commonly used.
7 Comments
Thank you, Thurd13 and ThePinappleMan!
Amazing series! Great work!
Great shots..!
Thanks Karen and Ava. Looks like you're spot on Ava, I will update this entry.
I think it's an adult male, non-breeding plumage, American Goldfinch.
I think they are all goldfinches but I find them a little tricky in their winter colors!
The first two birds are the same species but the third picture might be either the Male/Female or different bird all together. Could either of these be a Gold Finch?