Dan 27 Posted September 13, 2018 yes, yes, I know it is an awful pic. Had problems getting WIFI working on my camera yesterday so it is a photo of a photo. If not good enough I can try to get technology to work again. At my feeder yesterday (actually there were 3 of them) mixed in with the finches. I live in mountains of western NC - at about 3k feet in elevation. Any ideas? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dred 473 Posted September 13, 2018 American goldfinch 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan 27 Posted September 13, 2018 maybe. But has some significant differences from my other goldfinches (of which I have a horde). - the back is orang'ish, not olive, the wing bars are orange'ish, it is a little larger, has only a yellow chin/breast not the belly (the belly is white), and the wings are jet black. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Spencer 1,042 Posted September 13, 2018 (edited) It looks like an American Goldfinch in typical non-breeding plumage to me. Edited September 13, 2018 by Charlie Spencer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
psweet 292 Posted September 13, 2018 Looks like a juvenile in beautiful, fresh plumage. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Spencer 1,042 Posted September 13, 2018 45 minutes ago, psweet said: Looks like a juvenile in beautiful, fresh plumage. But we agree it's an AMGO? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
psweet 292 Posted September 13, 2018 Yes, it's definitely an American Goldfinch. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan 27 Posted September 13, 2018 Arghh.... I relent to your collective wisdom. Thanks all Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan 27 Posted September 13, 2018 I checked a field guide again for all variations - the one labeled “juvenile” seems spot on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Spencer 1,042 Posted September 14, 2018 13 hours ago, Dan said: I checked a field guide again for all variations - the one labeled “juvenile” seems spot on. Which guide, if I might ask? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akiley 658 Posted September 14, 2018 This is an American Goldfinch, no doubt. When making IDs by looking at a picture or drawing in a field guide, it's important to remember that all individuals might not look exactly like the depiction in the guide. There's a lot of individual variation in birds and many other reasons why all birds of various ages/sexes might not look exactly alike. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan 27 Posted September 14, 2018 National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. 6th edition. Page 523. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Leukering 122 Posted September 22, 2018 It's also a male, as discerned by the very black wings; females' are dark brown. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
