Sooo...why do they call these "goldfinch"?

This guy looks like he should be called a lemon finch, or a jonquil finch...

And they're not QUITE in full summer yellow yet, but some are almost there...this one still has a bit of olive-y on his back and belly...

(NO idea why Blogger is making this so gray...it looks fine in the scan, with a nice white background...)

(NOTE to self and anyone else who's having issues: I did fix it, it was a Google + issue--unchecked "enhance graphics" and all is well.  Gee thanks, Google.)

Birdwatching from my Studio Window

This was the quick sketch, just the basic shapes of this goldfinch in winter attire...my favorite HB mechanical pencil works great for these sketches.

I decided a slightly more dynamic pose would be nice, so I waited till the bird turned its head and re-drew!

I added larger shapes first in color...

...and continued to develop the details.  I got out the goauche to add a few fine white feathers and the sparkle in his eye.

You can see it's been a while since I did him!  I meant to post the progression sooner...I see I added the finished piece shortly after I painted it!

Goldfinches!

We have a LOT of American goldfinches at the shed this year.  I've never had the opportunity to see so many, so close, and it's interested to see them in mid-moult, from winter colors toward spring. 

In a month or so, this little guy will be bright yellow in the places he now shows an olive-y brown, and he'll wear a jaunty black cap that's just now coming in, a few feathers at a time.

They're amazingly bold little birds, taking over the feeders and refusing to give ground, fussing among themselves, and staying put when I go in and out.  Very much UNlike the chickadees, which seem to travel mostly alone, and do a quick snatch-and-run!

American Goldfinches (and friend)

We had had a sock feeder up for months, with almost no action, so I finally picked up an inexpensive fince feeder at Orschlen's Farm Store...and the goldfinches found it immediately!  First one, then a flock...they're beautiful, and when they all begin an excited, random twitteration, LOUD.

This little guy was a visitor to our front porch feeder, last winter...usually orange-ish under the wing!

Read more about them HERE, or listen to the variety of their song HERE.

Oh, and the little red-bud colored guy is a house finch, who ALSO likes the new feeder, when he can find room!

Orangish Goldfinch

Orangish Goldfinch
Originally uploaded by Cathy (Kate) Johnson

What an odd color on this male goldfinch! In other ways he's indistinguishable from the other finches at our feeder, but he has a decidedly orangish/rusty cast under his wings. Is this a local adaptation, or is he just a sport?

I've had albino chickadees, so I know stranger things can happen!

American Goldfinch

Yes I was doing my plein aire painting and kept looking at this tree....."did someone put christmas ornaments on the tree?" No, as my eyes got adjusted it was a whole HERD OF AMERICAN GOLDFINCH! I had never seen that many in my life. What a blessing that was....all I could do was stare and get my binoculars out. Thank GOD the sun wasn't playing tricks on my old eyes. This is a watercolor approximately 12" X 18"...140 pound cold press paper. Enjoy.
They looked like big lemon drops in that evergreen....strange but beautiful. I'm guessing the black on their wings were really defining them. Thank God for nature and birds. What a nice healing experience. I know everyone would prefer a portrait of the Goldfinch but that's not the way I saw it. God Bless