{"id":50776,"date":"2018-01-27T05:52:05","date_gmt":"2018-01-27T12:52:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=50776"},"modified":"2024-02-18T06:39:43","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T13:39:43","slug":"american-goldfinch-in-winter-plumage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/01\/27\/american-goldfinch-in-winter-plumage\/","title":{"rendered":"American Goldfinch in Winter Plumage"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BearBear River MBR American Goldfinch in winter plumage – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve really had a full plate this week which is why I’ve been writing such short posts for several days. Life gets hectic at times, what can I say?<\/p>\n

Ten days ago I was at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge<\/span><\/a> and although it wasn’t really birdy that day it felt marvelous to be out on the refuge soaking in the scenery, birds and the quiet and away from city noises, from crazy news reports and from my desk. I was thrilled to photograph two American Bitterns<\/span><\/a> that appear to be overwintering at the refuge, the bitterns are always great to see out in the open because usually they blend so well into their habitat.<\/p>\n

I photographed a couple of American Goldfinches that morning too, as usual I heard the finches well before I spotted them foraging in some vegetation next to the auto tour route.<\/p>\n

American Goldfinches are in winter plumage right now, that can also be called nonbreeding plumage but the more technical terminology is Definitive Basic Plumage. American Goldfinches molt twice a year and they are the only member of their family to do so. The finches are certainly less colorful this time of the year but I like the soft colors and subtle hues of their plumage during the their nonbreeding season just as much as I enjoy seeing them in the breeding plumage.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my American Goldfinch photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I photographed a couple of American Goldfinches that morning too, as usual I heard the finches well before I spotted them foraging in some vegetation next to the auto tour route. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":121427,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2715,124,27,1148,26],"tags":[4004,2716,4642,3504,3495,6198,6199,4094,4246,4104,2717,4095,373,5480],"class_list":["post-50776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-goldfinches","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-american-goldfinch","tag-definitive-basic-plumage","tag-finch","tag-finches","tag-goldfinch","tag-goldfinches","tag-marsh","tag-nonbreeding-plumage","tag-perched","tag-spinus-tristis","tag-wetlands","tag-winter","tag-winter-plumage"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/american-goldfinch-winter-mia-mcpherson-5688.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-dcY","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49596,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/11\/28\/treasury-of-american-goldfinches-at-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":50776,"position":0},"title":"Treasury of American Goldfinches at Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week I found a small flock of American Goldfinches foraging on the auto tour route at Bear River MBR and I was able to capture a few images of them before they took off in a rush.","rel":"","context":"In "American Goldfinches"","block_context":{"text":"American Goldfinches","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/finches-and-allies\/american-goldfinches\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Goldfinches at Bear River MBR, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-goldfinch-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-8414.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-goldfinch-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-8414.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-goldfinch-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-8414.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-goldfinch-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-8414.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":97217,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/11\/11\/american-goldfinches-in-winter-plumage\/","url_meta":{"origin":50776,"position":1},"title":"American Goldfinches In Winter Plumage","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week I spent some time with American Goldfinches in their winter plumage in my viewfinder and had fun photographing them.","rel":"","context":"In "American Goldfinches"","block_context":{"text":"American Goldfinches","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/finches-and-allies\/american-goldfinches\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Goldfinch in winter plumage, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/american-goldfinch-winter-plumage-mia-mcpherson-2971.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/american-goldfinch-winter-plumage-mia-mcpherson-2971.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/american-goldfinch-winter-plumage-mia-mcpherson-2971.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/american-goldfinch-winter-plumage-mia-mcpherson-2971.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":140506,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/02\/22\/winter-male-american-goldfinch\/","url_meta":{"origin":50776,"position":2},"title":"Winter Male American Goldfinch","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This male American Goldfinch caught my eye after the recent snowstorm here in Arkansas. Why? Because he's starting to molt into his breeding plumage.","rel":"","context":"In "American Goldfinches"","block_context":{"text":"American Goldfinches","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/finches-and-allies\/american-goldfinches\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Winter male American Goldfinch starting to get his breeding plumage, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/american-goldfinch-male-molt-mia-mcpherson-4125.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/american-goldfinch-male-molt-mia-mcpherson-4125.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/american-goldfinch-male-molt-mia-mcpherson-4125.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/american-goldfinch-male-molt-mia-mcpherson-4125.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":137134,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/11\/18\/american-goldfinch-in-arkansas\/","url_meta":{"origin":50776,"position":3},"title":"American Goldfinch In Arkansas","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 18, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning, I photographed my first American Goldfinch here in Arkansas. The beautiful goldfinch unexpectedly landed over the feeder and surprised me.","rel":"","context":"In "American Goldfinches"","block_context":{"text":"American Goldfinches","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/finches-and-allies\/american-goldfinches\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Goldfinch in nonbreeding plumage in Arkansas, Sebastian County","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-goldfinch-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-7944.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-goldfinch-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-7944.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/american-goldfinch-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-7944.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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