American goldfinches arrive in my area in late November and stay until mid April, which means I get to observe the magical transformation of their gender-neutral winter attire of dull brown. By spring the females are dressed in soft yellow, and the males are outfitted in bright yellow and black. They are gregarious, which means they live and travel in groups. On frosty mornings, it’s not unusual for me to see as many as 50-100 if I’ve sprinkled black oil sunflower seeds on the ground. Goldfinches are fun to watch and don’t spook easily, so it’s enjoyable to photograph them. They offer many chances for good close ups.
