Okay, do I really need to say that this photograph of an American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) was taken by reader Stephen Barnard in Idaho?
I swear, these things could be used to illustrate a bird guide:
Goldfinch ascending
February 11, 2014 • 5:17 am
My (Maryland) goldfinches are (at least in the warm seasons) a lot more golden than that one.
Is the picture winter plumage? Or a female? Or a different “kind” (to use Ken Ham’s favorite word, since I don’t know whether my Golder-Finch is a “variety” or what).
That’s how they look in the winter.
Hi Jerry
I suppose you could call this one ‘Chaffinch ascending’.
The Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) is a very common bird in the Uk (the RSPB says it’s the second commonest). This is a male. The female is more dull and brown. Mal
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Nice picture Stephen!
Looks like (a beautiful photo of) a goldfinch descending, to me.
And what ever became of the genus Carduelis?
It needs to be downside up or it’s not a goldfinch.
Very well done.
b&