American Goldfinches In Winter Plumage

American Goldfinch in winter plumage – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Last week I spent some time with American Goldfinches in their winter plumage in my viewfinder and had fun photographing them. The sky was clear, the temps were cool, and the finches showed up to feed on the seeds of a greasewood. Some of the finches were buried in the shrub while others perched out in the open.

American Goldfinches molt their body feathers twice every year, once in late summer and again in late winter. In their winter plumage American Goldfinches are considerably duller than they are in their breeding plumage.

American Goldfinches in winter plumage perched on a greasewood – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

As much as I enjoy seeing American Goldfinches in their bright yellow breeding plumage I also relish seeing and photographing them in their more subtle winter plumage. They still have touches of soft yellow in their feathers in nonbreeding plumage.

I heard these American Goldfinches before they flew in so I knew to look for them even though I was focused on photographing another bird at the time.

Adult American Goldfinch perched on a greasewood in autumn – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

These American Goldfinches didn’t hang around long but I was able to photograph several of them in different areas of the greasewood before they took off. They may not be flashy in their winter plumage but just hearing them lifts my spirit at times.

When late winter arrives next year the American Goldfinches will start to molt into their brighter breeding plumage. Until then I plan on appreciating seeing and photographing them in their winter plumage.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my American Goldfinch photos plus facts and information about this species.