Ohio Birding Forum
This forum is designed to provide a place for discussion of topics that are beyond the scope of the Ohio-birds mailing list (www.ohiobirds.org/publications/emaillist.php).
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#1 2010-02-02 11:07:30
Goldfinch not gold
Hi I am new to this forum but looking forward to participation.. I have a question>> I have been feeding twenty to thirty gold finches every year for several years nearly all were bright yellow however this past year none of them were bright yellow as they have been in the past they seemed to keep the same color just as if it were still winter. or young birds could it be that all the adult birds left and all I was feeding were the young ones?? Or are there other reasons for this to happen? I live in Montana Thanks Al Skogen
#2 2010-02-07 10:57:37
Re: Goldfinch not gold
It is possible that you were feeding mostly female birds and youngsters. Some years the bright males have a bad time of it, being bright and yellow can have a high cost in terms of depredation. Hard to say.
"Look its a simple question of weight ratios; a .5 oz bird can not carry 1 lb cocconut"
- Monty Python
#3 2010-02-07 18:35:51
Re: Goldfinch not gold
Speaking of that, is it my imagination or are the male goldfinches starting to get yellower?
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.-John Muir
#4 2010-02-09 10:44:32
Re: Goldfinch not gold
Yeah, I've noticed that too now. Some are even starting to molt head feathers and getting their little black caps.
"Look its a simple question of weight ratios; a .5 oz bird can not carry 1 lb cocconut"
- Monty Python