{"id":52275,"date":"2018-05-26T05:29:45","date_gmt":"2018-05-26T11:29:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=52275"},"modified":"2024-04-20T08:48:04","modified_gmt":"2024-04-20T13:48:04","slug":"focusing-on-american-goldfinches-feeding-on-dandelion-seeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/05\/26\/focusing-on-american-goldfinches-feeding-on-dandelion-seeds\/","title":{"rendered":"Focusing On American Goldfinches Feeding On Dandelion Seeds"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AmericanAmerican Goldfinch male perched on a fence – Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1250, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The day I photographed the Green-tailed Towhee singing up in the mountain canyon I also had an opportunity to take a nice series of photos of what appeared to be a mated pair of American Goldfinches. The finches were feasting on dandelion seeds and it was fun to watch them picking out the individual seeds. I was able to photograph them both on the ground and on the nearby fence.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale American Goldfinch eating dandelion seeds – Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1250, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Someone had cut the dandelions in the field but they skipped the area next to the fence line which is where the birds were plucking seeds from the spent dandelion flowers. The male goldfinch was so bright that his feathers rivaled the bright yellow dandelion flowers he was next to. I think he was even brighter yellow than they were.<\/p>\n

\"FemaleFemale American Goldfinch eating dandelion seeds – Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I focused a lot on the female because she seemed to stay more out in the open than the male did plus she faced me more often than he did. Both of these birds paid little attention to me as they went through and ate seed after seed.<\/p>\n

\"FemaleFemale American Goldfinch in dandelions – Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1250, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The beautiful American Goldfinches hung around for about fifteen minutes as Mom and I watched and photographed them then without any warning flew off into the willows near the creek. About that time I heard the Green-tailed Towhee singing<\/span><\/a> and went up the hill to locate him. I’m happy I found these birds that are the color of sunshine.<\/p>\n

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

Mia<\/p>\n

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

The day I photographed the Green-tailed Towhee singing up in the mountain canyon I also had an opportunity to take a nice series of photos of what appeared to be a mated pair of American Goldfinches.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":127759,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_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":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2715,27,4594,26],"tags":[4004,2716,3940,3818,6519,4286,7555,4040,4070,3830,3504,3495,6198,6199,4062,2240,4069,2139,2135,2717],"class_list":["post-52275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-goldfinches","category-avian","category-morgan-county","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-american-goldfinch","tag-canyon","tag-dandelion","tag-dandelions","tag-eating","tag-feasting","tag-feeding","tag-female","tag-fence","tag-finch","tag-finches","tag-goldfinch","tag-goldfinches","tag-male","tag-mated-pair","tag-mountains","tag-pair","tag-seeds","tag-spinus-tristis"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/american-goldfinch-female-dandelion-mia-mcpherson-2056.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-dB9","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":89095,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/05\/26\/spring-male-american-goldfinch\/","url_meta":{"origin":52275,"position":0},"title":"Spring Male American Goldfinch","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday I photographed this male American Goldfinch and thought about how he is as bright as the dandelions that are blooming now in the mountains.","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":"Spring male American Goldfinch, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-male-spring-mia-mcpherson-0680.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-male-spring-mia-mcpherson-0680.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-male-spring-mia-mcpherson-0680.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-male-spring-mia-mcpherson-0680.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":72176,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/07\/25\/male-american-goldfinch-thistles-ants-and-aphids\/","url_meta":{"origin":52275,"position":1},"title":"Male American Goldfinch, Thistles, Ants and Aphids","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Two days ago the first bird I photographed high in the mountains was an adult male American Goldfinch clinging to thistles that were covered in ants and aphids.","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":"Male American Goldfinch feasting on aphids, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-thistle-aphids-mia-mcpherson-9139.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-thistle-aphids-mia-mcpherson-9139.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-thistle-aphids-mia-mcpherson-9139.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-thistle-aphids-mia-mcpherson-9139.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52959,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/07\/07\/male-american-goldfinch-feasting-on-musk-thistle-seeds\/","url_meta":{"origin":52275,"position":2},"title":"Male American Goldfinch Feasting On Musk Thistle Seeds","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"A flash of yellow, black and white on a purple flower immediately drew my eyes to a male American Goldfinch feasting on the seeds of a Musk Thistle so I stopped, turned my Jeep off and proceeded to photograph the bird.","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 with flying thistle fluff, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-musk-thistle-mia-mcpherson-1860.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-musk-thistle-mia-mcpherson-1860.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-musk-thistle-mia-mcpherson-1860.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-musk-thistle-mia-mcpherson-1860.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":70283,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/05\/28\/hearing-thousands-of-american-goldfinches-flying-overhead\/","url_meta":{"origin":52275,"position":3},"title":"Hearing Thousands Of American Goldfinches Flying Overhead","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I have never heard so many American Goldfinches flying overhead for such a long period of time and I was in awe. I still am.","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":"Female American Goldfinch in the Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-female-perched-mia-mcpherson-4476.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-female-perched-mia-mcpherson-4476.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-female-perched-mia-mcpherson-4476.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-female-perched-mia-mcpherson-4476.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59503,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/08\/14\/molting-american-goldfinch-feasting-on-musk-thistle-seeds\/","url_meta":{"origin":52275,"position":4},"title":"Molting American Goldfinch Feasting On Musk Thistle Seeds","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"One year ago today I went up into the Wasatch Mountains and for about three minutes I photographed a molting American Goldfinch feasting on Musk Thistle seeds.","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":"Molting American Goldfinch perched on a Musk Thistle, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-molting-musk-thistle-mia-mcpherson-5115.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-molting-musk-thistle-mia-mcpherson-5115.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-molting-musk-thistle-mia-mcpherson-5115.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-molting-musk-thistle-mia-mcpherson-5115.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52258,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/05\/25\/green-tailed-towhee-singing-in-a-mountain-canyon\/","url_meta":{"origin":52275,"position":5},"title":"Green-tailed Towhee Singing In A Mountain Canyon","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I had fun yesterday morning photographing a male Green-tailed Towhee singing in a mountain canyon, this was a bird I heard before I spotted him perched on a flowering branch.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Green-tailed Towhee singing on a flowering branch, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/green-tailed-towhee-mia-mcpherson-2188.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/green-tailed-towhee-mia-mcpherson-2188.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/green-tailed-towhee-mia-mcpherson-2188.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/green-tailed-towhee-mia-mcpherson-2188.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52275"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52275\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}