{"id":59176,"date":"2019-07-23T05:40:08","date_gmt":"2019-07-23T11:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=59176"},"modified":"2024-05-21T09:22:08","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T14:22:08","slug":"american-goldfinch-male-in-breeding-plumage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/07\/23\/american-goldfinch-male-in-breeding-plumage\/","title":{"rendered":"American Goldfinch Male In Breeding Plumage"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AmericanAmerican Goldfinch male in breeding plumage on a Musk Thistle – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/3200, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I haven’t seen any American Goldfinches feeding on the seeds of Musk Thistle so far this year but the thistles seem behind in development which might have been caused by the cold, wet spring we had but I can say that I have missed seeing these bright yellow beauties feeding where I can easily photograph them.<\/p>\n

Last year I was able to take hundreds of photos of this male American Goldfinch in breeding plumage while he fed on the seeds of a Musk Thistle<\/span><\/a>. It was cool that morning and the light was great while I sat quietly observing this finch through my lens as I took photos of him on a July morning.<\/p>\n

A simple post of a simple image this morning.<\/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

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last year I was able to take hundreds of photos of this male American Goldfinch in breeding plumage while he fed on the seeds of a Musk Thistle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":128950,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":[2715,27,1731,26,773],"tags":[4004,2716,4053,6623,3504,3495,6198,6199,686,4062,6622,4104,2717,6626],"class_list":["post-59176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-goldfinches","category-avian","category-summit-county-utah","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","tag-adult","tag-american-goldfinch","tag-breeding-plumage","tag-carduus-nutans","tag-finch","tag-finches","tag-goldfinch","tag-goldfinches","tag-introduced","tag-male","tag-musk-thistle","tag-perched","tag-spinus-tristis","tag-thistle"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-male-musk-thistle-mia-mcpherson-1981.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-fos","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":59503,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/08\/14\/molting-american-goldfinch-feasting-on-musk-thistle-seeds\/","url_meta":{"origin":59176,"position":0},"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":72176,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/07\/25\/male-american-goldfinch-thistles-ants-and-aphids\/","url_meta":{"origin":59176,"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, 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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":140506,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/02\/22\/winter-male-american-goldfinch\/","url_meta":{"origin":59176,"position":3},"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":53647,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/08\/19\/female-and-male-american-goldfinches-lifting-off-from-musk-thistles\/","url_meta":{"origin":59176,"position":4},"title":"Female and Male American Goldfinches Lifting Off From Musk Thistles","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"When the female American Goldfinch lifted off I liked the eye contact I had with her and how graceful she looked when she raised her wings, when I saw this image on my camera LCD I just had to smile.","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 lifting off, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-female-lift-off-1025.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-lift-off-1025.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-female-lift-off-1025.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/american-goldfinch-female-lift-off-1025.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53237,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/07\/27\/american-goldfinch-perched-on-a-dried-musk-thistle-blossom-short-video-clip\/","url_meta":{"origin":59176,"position":5},"title":"American Goldfinch Perched on a dried Musk Thistle Blossom & Short Video Clip","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 27, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I am keeping it short and sweet and sharing one photo of a male American Goldfinch perched on a dried Musk Thistle blossom plus a short video clip I took of him as he lifted off and flew away.","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 perched on a dried Musk Thistle blossom, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, 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