The males of the American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) undergo one of the most dramatic changes between

their winter and summer plumage. You can’t tell the difference between the sexes during the winter --

well, you can if you are interested, but most folks don’t even bother trying. During the winter, when the

first two shots were taken, both males and females look pretty much like the two birds below.

Bob’s Backyard Birds
11

But in the summer the males transition into their bright

yellow bodies with black wings, tail, and foreheads.

On the left is a full feeder of summer Goldfinches; the lone female is on the bottom.

And below is a full house of the Goldfinches in winter.

© Bob Vuxinic

© Bob Vuxinic

21NOV09

30DEC10

2 Feb 2012

4 May 2007

© Bob Vuxinic

25 May 2012

© Bob Vuxinic

24 Dec 2011

The winter Goldfinch below was chosen for the

Cornell Lab of Ornithology's 2011–2012 Project

FeederWatch Photo Gallery online, in the

“Chickadees, Finches and More” section.