You’re a scruffy little goldfinch, aren’t you!

This little fellow looks like he’s in for a wardrobe change. His feathers are getting a bit blotchy and splotchy. He also has bud crumbs all over his little beak.

Ignoring the sunflower seeds, Scruff opted 

instead for a salad of crabapple buds! 

…you could at least wipe your bill, little Scruff!

I always think of American Goldfinches as seed eaters. They hop back and forth between our thistle feeders and visit the platform or tube feeders for sunflower seeds just as often. They also seem to have fun hanging over the side of giant sunflowers pulling out and eating the seeds one by one, or taking apart a black-eyed susan or purple coneflower, but until yesterday, I had never watched one pick apart and eat the green buds on a tree. Our little fellow seemed quite excited munching on the crabapple greenery. He would search out a bud, nip at it until it was gone and then search out another! Definitely a salad lover. I hope I have leaves and flowers on this tree later in the spring!