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The American Goldfinch is the state bird of New Jersey. It is famous for its bright yellow and black colors.
Goldfinch in the spring of last year
However, that vibrant yellow belongs only to the male finches, and only in the spring and summer. At the end of the summer, these birds molt, after which males and females look alike, in more subdued and earthly tones. Today I was able to photograph the winter Goldfinch.
Goldfinch in winter plumage
Goldfinch telling a Junco to keep its distance
neihtn 
The little guy looks so cute turned to the camera and I love the way the feeder with bird seems suspended in space…nice blurring of the background!
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Thanks Judy. I am using the 400 mm prime lens without an extender. So far so good.
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Do you use Canon equipment? I like my 300 mm prime….first non zoom I have ever had. Even though when using it I often miss pulling back when I want to. With my small sensor camera and the conversion factor it acts like 480? Not sure what camera you have but I imagine you are more than 400mm effectively.
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I am using a Canon 7D, so 400 mm is like 560 mm. The lens is very nice, but it does not have Image Stabilization, so I always use a tripod with it.
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That’s me too …. my main camera is a 7D and the lens for the birds is the 300mm prime which does have image stabilization. I rarely use my tripod and really should be more willing to do so. I have used it mostly if I am shooting a sunset or something with low light where I have a stable surface AND a still subject. You don’t know how much of my stuff was shot from a boat and of course with the birds I have not mastered moving a camera on a tripod freely enough to shoot without feeling hampered. The 7D has been a very practical camera.
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Love the images here – beautiful pictures!
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Thank you, Indah. Glad you like the photos!
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Goldfinch is beautiful. The last one is so cute!
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Thanks, Amy! That Goldfinch was very assertive.
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Love the yellow in the sunshine. Lovely after the snow!
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Thank you, Sue!
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Incredible how different the two plumages are! Great photos!
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Thank you, Tiny!
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Wonderful juxtaposition of the two seasonal plumages, Hien. 🙂
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Thank you, Jet!
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it’s amazing they can have those colors in one season and then lose them…like trees!
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All birds molt, and most regain their feathers with the same colors, but to these Goldfinches.
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What a terrific comparison, Hien ! – an ignoramus like me would never in a squillion years think it was the same species. 🙂
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Thanks, M-R! I didn’t know either, until I looked closely and recognized it as a Goldfinch, even though it was not gold. 🙂
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Can’t tell you how much I love your bird photography: that feeder deserves some kind of award ! [grin]
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