I know this isn't the best picture as I was shooting through a windowscreen.
But I only saw these birds, presumably some kind of finch, on November 21st about 9 am. There was a whole bunch of them at the feeder at one time, and I think I saw a female too in drab with brown stripes running longitudally. They seem to have left en masse too. No other birds came around when they were at the feeder; chickadees and a red-breasted nuthatch have been the other visitors. (And a very large fat chipmunk, but he's not a bird).
Anyway, haven't seen these birds before, or since. I live approximately 45 km southeast of Ottawa, Ontario and the weather here has been unseasonally warm, 8-9 degrees during the day.
Goldfinch, eh? But then what are the bright-yellow and black birds with white markings I see in the summertime, usually in open fields? I thought they were goldfinches.
BTW - likely the same bird you see in the summer. Their color changes between mating and non-mating season. These are beginning to get dull looking which is normal.
Hmm. Just Googled images and yep, seems like everyone who said American goldfinch is right. I certainly recognize them now, as the birds I always thought were goldfinches, in their brighter summer plumage of taxi-cab yellow, black and white.
So I'm guessing the plumage changes colour with the seasons...cool. Thanks all!
The goldfinches around here "appear" to change their color somewhat dramatically (especially with the males) over the year. I'm basing this on sightings of goldfinches on my feeders from summer to winter. They seem to illuminate almost overnight during the fall. Their colors become much more vivid and my grandmother frequently recalls seeing flocks of them in the yard (like dandilions coming to life in the grass). She always said it was like the dandilions were conspiring and coming to life (moving around in almost a dance)...
The goldfinches around here "appear" to change their color somewhat dramatically (especially with the males) over the year. I'm basing this on sightings of goldfinches on my feeders from summer to winter. They seem to illuminate almost overnight during the fall. Their colors become much more vivid and my grandmother frequently recalls seeing flocks of them in the yard (like dandilions coming to life in the grass). She always said it was like the dandilions were conspiring and coming to life (moving around in almost a dance)...
Must have been quite a sight to see, and imagine what kind of shot it would make! I see a fair number of them around in the meadows and open fields, but certainly not a lot.
I can't see images at work but judging by your description of the femailes I would hazard a guess that they are either gold or zebra finches.
You perhaps have never seen these before but I can assure you that there are oodles of them in our area. They are particularly fond of "Niger" seed which I purchase in 50lbs bags and yes the little darlings do manage to consume at least one full bag a year.
I can't see images at work but judging by your description of the femailes I would hazard a guess that they are either gold or zebra finches.
You perhaps have never seen these before but I can assure you that there are oodles of them in our area. They are particularly fond of "Niger" seed which I purchase in 50lbs bags and yes the little darlings do manage to consume at least one full bag a year.
Have a great day,
Ray
Seeing that the little darlings (with the help of a chipmunk too) have already gone through $5 worth of Niger seed, not surprised! Still seeing only chickadees and the nuthatch, though, guess the finches left for the winter.
I'm not sure Cornflower (aka Bachelor's Button) grows in your zone, but finches go crazy over it once it starts seeding. My neighbor has a patch of them & I'm always astonished at how many goldies visit at one time. Bumblebees, as well. Great looking flowers to shoot, too.
Haven't seen any yet in TX, but they usually show up more around Thanksgiving. We have the feeder out and the yellow ribbons tied on (supposed to attract them). In the past, we've had so many birds show up to feed at one time, some days, that they sit on my patio furniture in queue waiting! Loads of fun to watch, but they can put away the seeds! Pretty little birds!! Hope they show up soon here.
Well been awhile since I started this thread, so thought it time for an update...
Most people I know only hang and maintain birdfeeders in the winter months, to help the local populace survive the winter. I chose to continue to feed, only black-oil sunflower seeds though.
I have TONS of goldfinches, some purple finches, year-round chickadees, sparrows, 2 varieties of nuthatches, cardinals and rose-breasted grosbeaks (though haven't seem them lately). Also have had grackles come by and now some young bluejays, some so young they still don't have their adult crests in yet! So in a sense my nefarious plan is working, a whole generation of young birds has been taught by Mum and Dad to come to the weird metal thingy by the old schoolhouse. Makes getting shots of them a lot easier.
But I've had downy woodpeckers and now their kids are coming to the feeder, too. (The kids don't have their magnificent crests in yet, either). Uhmmm....don't woodpeckers live mostly off of grubs and insects found in rotting trees?
Why would they come to a feeder stocked with black-oil sunflower seeds? Even now I can hear that sharp 'PEEP!' from a woodpecker at the feeder.
So scratching my head here. Either woodpeckers are more adaptable to available food sources than I thought, or they have always liked sunflower seeds.
The downys will eat from our feeder, though they like the suet as well. But the red-bellied woodpeckers eat only from the feeder; they don't care for the suet.
The black oil sunflower seeds might be like candy to the woodpeckers. Peanuts are that way to the cardinals.
We also keep feeding year round. The coolest thing we've had is a tiny flock of bluebirds (mom, dad and most of their babies from the spring) show up in November to see where the bird bath is, the two feeders, the bird houses and the trees.
If you have anything in your yard with berries (like a pyrocantha) you might get wax wings in the Spring! They look like yellow and green cardinals for a very loose description, lol. Cool birds. They show up "en mass" and will eat all of the fermenting berries..and you guessed it...they get a little tipsy. Guess it's like wax wing wine, lol!) I love having all of the birds around to photograph. We even had a huge hawk in our front yard early this year. My photos are terrible, as it was pretty dark and cloudy out, but so close!
Only in the UK I suppose, the pond is kinda big to commute across. Goldfinches over here (males anyway) are New-Yawk taxicab yellow with black and white markings. Females, young and males outside of breeding season sport basically the same colours but in much more muted tones.
The black oil sunflower seeds might be like candy to the woodpeckers. Peanuts are that way to the cardinals.
We also keep feeding year round. The coolest thing we've had is a tiny flock of bluebirds (mom, dad and most of their babies from the spring) show up in November to see where the bird bath is, the two feeders, the bird houses and the trees.
If you have anything in your yard with berries (like a pyrocantha) you might get wax wings in the Spring! They look like yellow and green cardinals for a very loose description, lol. Cool birds. They show up "en mass" and will eat all of the fermenting berries..and you guessed it...they get a little tipsy. Guess it's like wax wing wine, lol!) I love having all of the birds around to photograph. We even had a huge hawk in our front yard early this year. My photos are terrible, as it was pretty dark and cloudy out, but so close!
Thought I had waxwings earlier this year but they were young and/or female cardinals :-) I do have gooseberries growing at the back, and last year *some* bird ate them, but as the gooseberry thatch is pretty much out of sight, never got to see what was scarfing them down. Also have raspberry and blackberry canes, pretty much done now, but someone apart from me was eating them!
ETA: I think waxwings are a little less chunky than cardinals, more streamlined. That's always been my impression, whenever I have seen them. Think they're in the cardinal family.
What really floored me was seeing a male rose-breasted grosbeak in all his beautiful black/white plumage and the huge scarlet patch on his breast. I was in awe. But when I first saw his woman, I assumed she was a freakishly oversized female purple finch :-)
The downys will eat from our feeder, though they like the suet as well. But the red-bellied woodpeckers eat only from the feeder; they don't care for the suet.
Really? "My" Redbellies eat suet exclusively. Downies mostly eat suet but will go to the feeders occasionally; Hairies and the odd Flicker are strict suet-eaters here.
The Goldfinches have a sock full of Niger seed which they adore. They also like the seeds of Coneflowers and Black-eyed Susans when they can get them. The color change from non-breeding to breeding really is quite striking; one of the joys of the changing seasons.
Feeding the birds in the winter (even if their plumage is more drab) is generally more rewarding photographically if only because the trees lose their leaves ;-) But I feed year-round, at least partly because I love watching the parents bring their babies to the feeders in spring and summer. I have some adolescent Bluejays here, too; they are QUITE vocal when I have let the feeders run low LOL.
Hmm. Just Googled images and yep, seems like everyone who said American goldfinch is right. I certainly recognize them now, as the birds I always thought were goldfinches, in their brighter summer plumage of taxi-cab yellow, black and white.
So I'm guessing the plumage changes colour with the seasons...cool. Thanks all!
The downys will eat from our feeder, though they like the suet as well. But the red-bellied woodpeckers eat only from the feeder; they don't care for the suet.
Really? "My" Redbellies eat suet exclusively. Downies mostly eat suet but will go to the feeders occasionally; Hairies and the odd Flicker are strict suet-eaters here.
The Goldfinches have a sock full of Niger seed which they adore. They also like the seeds of Coneflowers and Black-eyed Susans when they can get them. The color change from non-breeding to breeding really is quite striking; one of the joys of the changing seasons.
Feeding the birds in the winter (even if their plumage is more drab) is generally more rewarding photographically if only because the trees lose their leaves ;-) But I feed year-round, at least partly because I love watching the parents bring their babies to the feeders in spring and summer. I have some adolescent Bluejays here, too; they are QUITE vocal when I have let the feeders run low LOL.
Oh trust me, the goldfinches are no slouches in the vocal department! I have to bring in the feeder at nighttime or else a raccoon stops by and stuffs his face with seed. So if I am not awoken by my 16-yr-old cat screaming his head off for brekkie, the hopeful 'we're-hungry' cheeps of the goldfinches usually sees me stumbling outdoors, feeder in one hand and a yogurt container full of seed in the other :-)
Hmm. Just Googled images and yep, seems like everyone who said American goldfinch is right. I certainly recognize them now, as the birds I always thought were goldfinches, in their brighter summer plumage of taxi-cab yellow, black and white.
So I'm guessing the plumage changes colour with the seasons...cool. Thanks all!
Hmm. Just Googled images and yep, seems like everyone who said American goldfinch is right. I certainly recognize them now, as the birds I always thought were goldfinches, in their brighter summer plumage of taxi-cab yellow, black and white.
So I'm guessing the plumage changes colour with the seasons...cool. Thanks all!
