jg0406 Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 What's up with this goldfinch? It seems to be missing most of the black spot May 3 2021 And for reference anothr one same pose, same day. Is it just a weird moult thing? Old age balding? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jg0406 Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 And another angle I know it's an American Goldfinch, but I'm more interested as to why it looks like that> 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 Male balding. Seriously though, it should be molting into breeding plumage, so I am sure that is all it is. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Eberhard Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 That is weird that the head is bisected, but nothing else to indicate that the guy won't molt in the rest of the black cap. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 Clarifying, was this taken in May of last year? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aveschapinas Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 How do we rule out anomalous color? Not sure what it would be called, since it's not lack of color or faded (the yellow is bright) but a difference in where the color occurs. I don't get the sense that the bird is still molting, since all of the rest of the color appears fully developed and he looks nocely and smoothly groomed. And wouldn't May be late for breeding pumage to still be developing? (Not at all sure about this but it seems relevant.) 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 1 minute ago, Aveschapines said: How do we rule out anomalous color? Is that a technical way of saying what we in South Cackalacky would call a 'weird bird ya got there, Bubba'? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aveschapinas Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 9 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: Is that a technical way of saying what we in South Cackalacky would call a 'weird bird ya got there, Bubba'? Yeah LOL! I didn't know what to call it, since it doesn't seem to be a lack or excess of pigment, just colors in the wrong place! Kind of a reverse birthmark??? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Aveschapines said: reverse birthmark band name ? smooth jazz? Or maybe folk Edited March 14, 2022 by Avery 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aveschapinas Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 6 minutes ago, Avery said: band name ? smooth jazz? Or maybe folk Definitely folk! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 Yeah, I was asking for clarification on time, because by May, those breeding colors should be all in on these guys. (And while they usually get the black eyebrow look first, I've never seen one just get half a black cap during the process. Not saying it's impossible, just. . .) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerri Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 (edited) There are some reports of half male/female plumaged cardinals and grosbeaks. Perhaps goldfinches as well? Edited March 17, 2022 by Kerri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 14 minutes ago, Kerri said: There are some reports of half male/female plumaged cardinals and grosbeaks. Perhaps goldfinches as well? What about this bird suggests female? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 This bird does not show any signs of being a female. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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