Image #148 – Putting on a new coat — seasonal changes in the bird world

Previous posts have included pictures of the American Goldfinches who have graced my feeder throughout the summer (Image #141).  Now it is mid-fall and  mating colors are gone . I learned today that the American Goldfinch is the only finch to undergo a complete moulting process.   So the bird in this picture could be the same as the bird in Image #141.  But American Goldfinches are also migratory so this may be an entirely different bird.  This bird, according to The Sibley Guide to Birds, is a an adult, non-breeding.   While not as dramatic as the male American Goldfinch in his mating finery he is still a very handsome bird. ❧