Turns out the American goldfinch never left the region. They have been here all winter, just dressed down in winter plumage.
Right now they are molting the dull plumage observed all winter. The males are donning distinctive black wings, tail and forehead and, most noticeable of all, the bright yellow colors which give the species its name. The wings of both sexes are accented with white barring.
Females do not brighten up as much, taking on a duller greenish-yellow look that serves to keep her less obvious while tied to the nest, on egg incubation duties. While she’s sitting on eggs the male will be out and about collecting and bringing her food for the 10-12 day incubation period.
As the year progresses, bird watchers will be treated to the colorful adults, acrobatically feeding on the seeds of tall vegetation in prairies and meadows.
Metroparks Toledo nature photographer, Art Weber, took these shots of a male American that has nearly completed its molt to bright breeding plumage, right, while another goldfinch is midway through the process.
