Rondeau Ric

On a very crisp winter's day -15.4C or 4.3 F, I give you a touch of spring. A male American goldfinch to remind you that spring is coming and then it will be summer. Remember today when you are complaining about the heat. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. July 30, 2014. Spinus tristis Spring males are brilliant yellow and shiny black with a bit of white. Females and all winter birds are more dull but identifiable by their conical bill; pointed, notched tail; wingbars; and lack of streaking. During molts they look bizarrely patchy.

 An American goldfinch slowly melting away like the Wicked Witch of the West. "You cursed brat! Look what you've done! I'm melting! melting!" Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, September 4, 2018. Spinus tristis Goldfinches move south in winter following a pattern that seems to coincide with regions where the minimum January temperature is no colder than 0 degrees Fahrenheit on average .

July 24, 2023, warmer times in our little water feature, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. A few that come to our feeder still have/are getting colour. Nice to see on another dreary day  Spinus tristis.  American Goldfinches are unusual among goldfinches in molting their body feathers twice a year, once in late winter and again in late summer. The brightening yellow of male goldfinches each spring is one welcome mark of approaching warm months. source -allaboutbirds-org

American goldfinch, Rondeau Provincial Park, June 17, 2023. Singing his heart out. Spinus tristis. Paired-up goldfinches make virtually identical flight calls; goldfinches may be able to distinguish members of various pairs by these calls. source -Cornell Lab of Ornithology

American goldfinch showing his spring colours. Rondeau Provincial Park, March 5, 2023 Spinus tristis. The oldest known American Goldfinch was 10 years 9 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during a banding operation in Maryland.

We had over 50 goldfinches under and on our seed feeders yesterday. They were back again today taking advantage of the only open water, except for Lake Erie, in the area. A welcome splash of colour in the winter. Rondeau Provincial Park, Dec 21, 2022. Spinus tristis.  American Goldfinches use a four-syllable call when they’re ready to take flight. If you listen closely, it sounds like the birds are saying “po-ta-to-chip”. Both male and female Goldfinches use that call. 

American goldfinch taking advantage of the warm day late in November . Rondeau Provincial Park, Nov 24, 2022. Spinus tristis. Paired-up goldfinches make virtually identical flight calls; goldfinches may be able to distinguish members of various pairs by these calls.

It isn't just the large birds that like to splash water everywhere. American goldfinch, at our water feature. Rondeau Provincial Park, July 25, 2022. Spinus tristis When Brown-headed Cowbirds lay eggs in an American Goldfinch nest, the cowbird egg may hatch but the nestling seldom survives longer than three days. The cowbird chick simply can’t survive on the all-seed diet that goldfinches feed their young. source - Cornell lab of Ornithology.

American goldfinch, Rondeau Provincial Park, June 25, 2022. Limited number of species coming into the yard to use the water these days. Most birds are busy nesting. This goldfinches dark feathers looked odd, normally they appear without the fringe Spinus tristis Goldfinches are among the strictest vegetarians in the bird world, selecting an entirely vegetable diet and only inadvertently swallowing an occasional insect. source Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

American goldfinch, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, May 25, 2022. Lots of dandelions in the yard for the goldfinches to feed on. Spinus tristis American Goldfinches breed later than most North American birds. They wait to nest until June or July when milkweed, thistle, and other plants have produced their fibrous seeds, which goldfinches incorporate into their nests and also feed their young. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch

American goldfinch shivering in the yard. We are going through a huge amount of niger seed this winter, the feeders are always mobbed. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, Jan 23, 2022. Spinus tristis Goldfinches move south in winter following a pattern that seems to coincide with regions where the minimum January temperature is no colder than 0 degrees Fahrenheit on average. source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

American goldfinch, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, Nov 21, 2021. Another forager in the back of the yard. We have planted the majorty of the property in native tall grases and floweres for the wildlife. Also I hate cutting grass. Spinus tristis Goldfinches move south in winter following a pattern that seems to coincide with regions where the minimum January temperature is no colder than 0 degrees Fahrenheit on average. source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, March 2, 2021. Another sign of spring when the goldfinches start to show more colour. Spinus tristis Paired-up goldfinches make virtually identical flight calls; goldfinches may be able to distinguish members of various pairs by these calls. Source -Cornell Lab of Ornithology- All About Birds

American goldfinch standing on the very thin ice in the stream of our water feature. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, January 28, 2021. Spinus tristis Goldfinches move south in winter following a pattern that seems to coincide with regions where the minimum January temperature is no colder than 0 degrees Fahrenheit on average. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch

Rondeau Provincial Park, Jan 21, 2021. Mid/late January and the water feature is still running. What snow we had has melted and I'm still riding my bike. Not complaining but it unusual for this area of Canada in the winter. Photo taken through the wonderful wildlife window. Spinus tristis  Paired-up goldfinches make virtually identical flight calls; goldfinches may be able to distinguish members of various pairs by these calls. The oldest known American Goldfinch was 10 years 9 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during a banding operation in Maryland. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch

American Goldfinch, Dec 27, 2020, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. The blue jays found it and opened up the crevasse down to the water in the little stream in our yard. All the other birds appreciated the jays efforts. Spinus tristis When Brown-headed Cowbirds lay eggs in an American Goldfinch nest, the cowbird egg may hatch but the nestling seldom survives longer than three days. The cowbird chick simply can’t survive on the all-seed diet that goldfinches feed their young. The oldest known American Goldfinch was 10 years 9 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during a banding operation in Maryland. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch

Sept 16, 2020, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Soggy goldfinch bathing in our little water feature. Spinus tristis Paired-up goldfinches make virtually identical flight calls; goldfinches may be able to distinguish members of various pairs by these calls.

American goldfinch, May 30, 2020, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. The number of species and volumes of birds has dropped significantly in the past week. Looks like th spring migration is largely over. Spinus tristis Goldfinches are among the strictest vegetarians in the bird world, selecting an entirely vegetable diet and only inadvertently swallowing an occasional insect. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch

American Goldfinch, March 31, 2019, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. An early April Fools joke, spring one day, winter the next. Spinus tristis Paired-up goldfinches make virtually identical flight calls; goldfinches may be able to distinguish members of various pairs by these calls. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch

American Goldfinch on ox-eyed sunflower, Rondeau Provincial Park, October 6, 2018. Spinus tristis American Goldfinches breed later than most North American birds. They wait to nest until June or July when milkweed, thistle, and other plants have produced their fibrous seeds, which goldfinches incorporate into their nests and also feed their young. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/