Goldfinches in the Fall

In late September, I was lucky enough to get some pictures of male goldfinches visiting my deck – for the flower seeds and birdbath. At first they looked like a slightly duller version of their normal selves.

As I looked closer at one feeding on zinnia seeds – I noticed that the feathers were in the process of changing over to winter plumage which is not the bright yellow that they have in summer. The new colors will help the birds avoid predation in the winter.

The change was even easier to see in this series of image of a goldfinch at the birdbath.

Soon the yellow feather will be gone – and there will be a brown-black-white bird that will stay around our feeders (as soon as I put seed in them again). I’ll have to develop more skill to recognize them!