Yet another sign of spring--from the changing of the guard to the changing of the wardrobe...
Male American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) everywhere have started undergoing their spring molts.
Before you know it Scruffy Chic will be out of style and Sleek Yellow will be in!
Love these images Kelly. Carol
ReplyDeleteIt has eyes for you, brilliant photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean Scruffy, I'm just colour co-ordinated with the buds on the bush. {:)
ReplyDeletethey really are cute in their half/and/half... :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, they are pretty cute with their blotchy coats.
ReplyDeleteCarol...thanks!
ReplyDeleteBob...thank you! :-)
Roy...haha! Then you're right in style.
Tex... :-) they are!
Gillian...I like their blotchy coats too. It's always so exciting to see them just starting to change!
beautiful photography!
ReplyDeleteThis was a real awakening to me when I first started backyard birding a few years ago. I got alarmed, figured they had some dread disease--and would I catch it, like avian flu?
ReplyDeleteHave you seen a blue jay in early adolescence? Holy molt!
Heh, heh! Scruffy is right. Ours are still pretty much Winter-colored.
ReplyDeleteLove the scruffy chic! Pretty soon he will be strutting his new wardrobe for all the ladies. And look at those leaves ready to burst out--I am so envious! We're supposed to be getting more snow by tomorrow night.....
ReplyDeleteOh, so pretty. I love this time of year when the leaves are just coming out but it is still easy to see the birds in the trees!
ReplyDeleteLove these shots! Have not seen any Goldfinches in our yard yet this spring. I see those pesky Grackles are back though!
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely photos today. Delightful little bird.
ReplyDelete...thanks, everyone. Now that I'm back I can catch up with everyone's blog. I've fallen so far behind, and I know there are lots of cool things going on out there! It is amazing watching the transformation these goldfinch go through--twice a year no less! It must take a lot of energy to create new feathers for a complete molt, but I'm glad they do it. It's so beautiful to watch!
ReplyDeleteI love your outlook on this. And your photos are great!
ReplyDeleteSo good to see them turning color! Great shots!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy watching the goldfinches change each year. Like the leaves on the trees in springtime, you see them begin the process, then all of a sudden, they are rich in color.
ReplyDelete