The Goldfinches have been here in a big flock. I was really shocked the first day I looked out the window and saw at least fifty or so Goldfinches in the backyard and a similar number in the front yard! Whew! At times, the tube feeder in the front yard had all of the perches full and birds waiting on-line on the post and on the ground underneath. The males have been getting much more of the bright Lemon-yellow coloring that they show during the nesting season. Both genders have black and white bars on their wings but the males will have a small patch of black on their foreheads during the breeding season. The males will be much more vividly colored than the females. The Goldfinches eat Millet, Niger or Nyger, Safflower Seed, Black Oil Sunflower Seed (Unshelled is preferred) and other wild weed and plant seeds. Occasionally the Goldfinches enjoy a bit of cracked peanut or berries.
The Goldfinches are very social and like to be with other small birds such as the House Finches, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Chickadees, and Juncos. I have had so many Goldfinches here at once in the yard, it almost looked like the ground was moving with little yellow birds! It was especially cute when the Goldfinches were browsing for seed in the leaves. The birds were so tiny that the leaves almost covered them up. It is entertaining to watch the Goldfinches here. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture. Enjoy!
P.S. We were under a tornado warning here on the lake late this afternoon. We so far only had a severe thunderstorm. Unfortunately for us, one of our big Oak Trees fell – and hit our pontoon boat. Hopefully the damage will only be slight to the boat and dock. I’ll let you know in a future post. We are fine and are safe in our basement. Just thought I’d let all know. Wildlifewatcher.
