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Where are our bright yellow American goldfinches?![]()
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In Wisconsin, they are still around but with subdued coloring because American goldfinches are the ONLY finch that molts its feathers TWICE a year! ![]()
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Molting is the process of a bird shedding its old feathers to replace them with new ones. When male American goldfinches molt in late winter, they get their breeding plumage and coloring we are used to seeing: bright yellow with a black forehead and tail. They also have black wings with contrasting white wing bars. At the end of summer, it is time to switch to warmer plumage that is less showy: they lose their black foreheads and their bright yellow becomes a dull brownish-gold. During this time, females and juveniles look similar to non-breeding males. ![]()
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The population of American goldfinches living in Wisconsin are year-round residents, while populations living further north are short-distance migrants and move south during winter to avoid extremely cold temperatures. American goldfinches tend to overwinter in regions where the minimum January temperature is no colder than 0°F (-18°C), on average.![]()
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What signs of late fall do you see? Visit us for a hike or take a walk around your neighborhood looking for cyclical events influenced by seasonal changes. ![]()
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Photo: Stephanie Briand, Aldo Leopold Nature Center![]()
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#PhenologyUpdate #AmericanGoldfinch #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside
