Update to American Goldfinch.
The male goldfinches in this area are now bright yellow except for their black and white wings, white underparts, and black mask. The females remain a duller color and they lack the black mask.
This image shows two male goldfinches.Occasionally I watch the goldfinches. They cluster around the bird feeders most of the time. Sometimes, the goldfinches will eat the seeds that have fallen to the ground. With each other, I have seen them lunging with beaks open until the other backs away. The males also fly off, one chasing the other. I have seen males take over the femalesβ space at the feeder. The females let them have the space and they will fly away or they find another spot on the other bird feeder. When another kind of bird tries to alight on the feeder, the goldfinches make space by either flying away or making room for the bird.
Off topic note: This morning I happened to see a male cardinal feeding a female cardinal. They were on the windowsill where I had spread some sunflower seeds.
Michelle says
I wish we could see the Gold Finches here. I’ll have to check to see if they are even in our area and then how to attract them.
Interesting about the cardinals. I have never observed that. We have a couple at our feeder every morning and evening.
Thanks for the links. I will be checking them out this week. I am thinking of doing a bird unit study for the co-op next year. π
As always, Donna, you are a great help! π
Tanya says
I love goldfinches. They are one of my favorite birds.
Right now, there is a very fat female Robin lurking every time I go outside. You have inspired me. Next year, I plan on putting a hook for a bird feeder outside the window.
Sheri says
I placed a feeder outside our breakfast room window. Wonder where I got that idea & inspiration? We mostly attract cowbirds; they are persistent and I don’t bother chasing them away anymore. We have several cardinals that visit, and a new guy as of yesterday that I haven’t ID’d yet. We have some white-throated sparrows nesting in our hydrangea bushes, but I haven’t seen them at the feeder. The chickens also keep the ground rather clean. I haven’t seen any goldfinches since we moved here.
Donna Young says
Sheri we had a pair of cowbirds at the feeder today, a male and female. It’s the first time I have seen them at the feeder. Holly and I looked them up in the bird book. We read that they put their eggs in the nest of other birds.
A couple of days ago I saw a white throated sparrow on the windowsill. I was able to identify it because of it’s little yellow markings on its head. It a cute little bird. π Lately I’ve seen them on the ground and on the feeder. They don’t seem to be choosy.
Earlier today, we had a male and female pair of house finches. They seemed grouchy because they wouldn’t let any other bird land on the feeder while they were on it. Both of them, male and female, lurched at wannabe diners. When the male house finch came alone to the feeder, he was not aggressive. They also ate in unison, heads bobbing down at the same time, but I think that must have been a coincidence. π