Changing the colour despite the weather...

                                                                                                        Photo by BarrytheBirder

American Goldfinch

Carduelis tristis

Well, the male American Goldfinches have turned bright yellow and black, but here in southern Ontario it is still very chilly weather.   Nevertheless, we do have lots of these delightful small birds and they are very well fed.  They are often referred to as the "Wild Canary".   The Audubon Society says their food is mostly seeds and that nesting does not begin until midsummer or late summer when seeds are available.   This allows them to stay in flocks until well past the time when other species have formed pairs and are nesting.   Because they breed so late, only a single set of eggs is raised each summer.  Their bright call "per-chick-o-ree" is delivered in flight and coincides with each undulation.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder