Photo: Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust
A recent e-mail to me from the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust included the American Goldfinch photo seen above and a brief description of this bird's fall and winter behaviours.
The e-mail commented that American Goldfinches undergo a fall molt staring in September, lasting 6 to 8 weeks. This seasonal feather makeover replaces their vibrant breeding plumage with a more muted palette. Males trade their sunny yellow and black caps for olive or brown tones, while females shift to a softer olive yellow. The subtle winter looks help them to blend into bare bare trees and open fields.
Their habits change also. In Ontario's colder months, goldfinches feast mainly on thistle seeds, along with aster, sunflower, and coneflower seeds, especially at feeders Unlike summer, when insects are on the menu, winter is all about seeds - critical fuel for surviving the chill.
Come spring, goldfinches go through another molt to regain their dazzling yellow plumage, signaling the start of the breeding season (see photos below).
Male
Photos by BarrytheBirder
Female
Goldfinches breed from north-central British Columbia east to Nova Scotia, south to the Great Lakes region and northern New England, in mountains to central United States. In winter thy can migrate south to all of the United States and a small part of northeast Mexico.
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder
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