A Touch of Gold

Once in a while, when I least expect it… boom! A couple of American Goldfinches show up for a short but delightful visit! They are very nice looking birds, their plumages are bright and virtually hard to miss in contrast with the green surrounding backyard.

Before I ever shot a picture of an American Goldfinch, they used to just fly by and skip my backyard a few years back, I was feeling a bit left out because I could see them in other backyards very often and I wanted to photograph them so badly…until one day when they decided to stop by and try feeding there, from that day they have been visiting my backyard!

These birds have refined features with a more delicate appearance compared to other finches such as the House Finches. However they are not very distant when it comes to sharing meals and getting along well in groups.

19 thoughts on “A Touch of Gold”

weisserwatercolours on July 10, 2015 at 9:44 am said:

Here, in British Columbia, HJ, they are predominant. I have counted upwards of 65 at one time in our Red Maple, jockeying for a perch at the hanging feeders, and sharing space with House Finches, Chickadees, Juncos, Redpolls, Siskins, etc. However, we only feed in late Autumn and Winter through until May–and exclusively black oil sunflower seeds, and suet. As you know, they molt and go to a distinguished olive green in Winter. They have been bred with domesticated Canaries, but the offspring are always a ‘one off’ and don’t go on to establish a lineage (or so I’ve read).

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- avian101 on July 10, 2015 at 11:28 am said:
  
  You’re right Lance, that’s their preferred breeding grounds and then they move south. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
  
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María on July 10, 2015 at 2:00 pm said:

Los jilgueros me parecen preciosos y delicados.
Un abrazo HJ!

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- avian101 on July 10, 2015 at 3:57 pm said:
  
  Yo opino lo mismo Maria! Gracias y un abrazo también! 🙂
  
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susanpoozan on July 10, 2015 at 2:41 pm said:

What a splendid gallery of photographs.

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- avian101 on July 10, 2015 at 3:58 pm said:
  
  Thank you Susan! I appreciate it! 🙂
  
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tootlepedal on July 10, 2015 at 7:10 pm said:

Very attractive birds HJ

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- avian101 on July 10, 2015 at 10:39 pm said:
  
  Thank you Tom! 🙂
  
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Lori Fontanes on July 11, 2015 at 7:56 am said:

Coincidentally, I happened to see a gorgeous male goldfinch hanging around my sunflower patch yesterday! Thanks for sharing this overview! 🙂

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- avian101 on July 11, 2015 at 12:32 pm said:
  
  That’s ok! He’ll be back when the seeds are ready! Thanks Lori! 🙂
  
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Tiny on July 11, 2015 at 11:17 am said:

Beautiful birds! Nice that they visit your backyard 🙂

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- avian101 on July 11, 2015 at 12:33 pm said:
  
  Thank you Tiny! 🙂
  
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W.H. SIM on July 11, 2015 at 1:06 pm said:

congratulations on capturing these beautiful yellow birds!! I’m still in the “waiting to photograph them” camp!! 😦

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- avian101 on July 11, 2015 at 1:18 pm said:
  
  It takes a bit of patience to photograph birds, if not try some other time. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
  
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  - W.H. SIM on July 11, 2015 at 1:21 pm said:
    
    the American Goldfinches have been playing hard to photograph with me for two years now. 🙂
45DegreesNorth on July 11, 2015 at 9:23 pm said:

I always say you can’t be down with goldfinches around! They are such cheerful rays of sunshine.

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- avian101 on July 11, 2015 at 10:36 pm said:
  
  Well said Amy! I agree! Thanks! 🙂
  
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Birder's Journey on July 13, 2015 at 9:48 am said:

Glad they discovered what an excellent host you are, HJ! They really do glisten like gold, don’t they?

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- avian101 on July 13, 2015 at 11:38 am said:
  
  Thank you very much Carol! 🙂
  
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