American Goldfinch in breeding plumage, April 2017
It is quiet around here, except for the never ending sounds of the crickets and locusts. At least we see a few goldfinches every day at our feeders. They are one of the latest nesting birds. They start not much before July, when most other songbirds are finishing with breeding. Pretty soon the American Goldfinches will change from breeding plumage to winter plumage by a complete molt of their feathers. It is the only member of its family that has a molt in spring and fall. All other species have just one molt each year in the fall.
The males still have their yellow feathers at the moment but the plumage is not as bright and beautiful as it was back in spring, when this photo was taken.
Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head, Nikon SB 800 speed light, MAGMOD MagBeam flash extender, @ 600 mm, 1/1000s, f/7.1, ISO200,