Oscraps

And now for some more Bird ID help...

faerywings

faerywings

The Loopy-O
CHEERY O
I am looking for info on how to tell the difference between female goldfinches, lesser goldfinches, and ruby-crowned kinglets.

I have been having a flock of goldfinches at my feeder. Over the last few days, I have noticed ones that look like they could be females but are much smaller. After looking at the Cornell website, I am thinking they could be ruby-crowned kinglets. I haven't been able to get any decent pictures.
I also see some golfinches that have a much more mottled shading of yellow and black. Scruffier looking and not as "borb-shaped."
77b4a197818308255fe2754e350df338.jpg
Are these female and male goldfinches?
The coloring of the smaller birds is similar to the female but half the size. Cornell says the kinglets have white eye rings but I haven't been able to get a close-up look at them. At least not yet!

Any advice is always appreciated! TY!!
 
The photo is of American Goldfinches. Don't worry about Lesser Goldfinches as they don't occur in NJ. Goldfinches are small so if the other birds are that much smaller, they might be someone else. Ruby-crowned Kinglets or Golden-crowned are unlikely to come to your feeder but I can't say that for sure.

About goldfinch plumage: the bright yellow we are beginning to see was there all winter and is revealed as the dull feather edges wear away. That's why we see lots of splotchy ones. In breeding plumage females are also yellow, but not so intense as males.

P.S. Dandelions are an invasive species introduced from Eurasia.
 
faerywings said:
I am looking for info on how to tell the difference between female goldfinches, lesser goldfinches, and ruby-crowned kinglets.

I have been having a flock of goldfinches at my feeder. Over the last few days, I have noticed ones that look like they could be females but are much smaller. After looking at the Cornell website, I am thinking they could be ruby-crowned kinglets. I haven't been able to get any decent pictures.
I also see some golfinches that have a much more mottled shading of yellow and black. Scruffier looking and not as "borb-shaped."
View attachment 445006
Are these female and male goldfinches?
The coloring of the smaller birds is similar to the female but half the size. Cornell says the kinglets have white eye rings but I haven't been able to get a close-up look at them. At least not yet!

Any advice is always appreciated! TY!!
Click to expand...
It looks like this might be a pair...the female being on the left and the male being on the right.
 
scrap-genie said:
The photo is of American Goldfinches. Don't worry about Lesser Goldfinches as they don't occur in NJ. Goldfinches are small so if the other birds are that much smaller, they might be someone else. Ruby-crowned Kinglets or Golden-crowned are unlikely to come to your feeder but I can't say that for sure.

About goldfinch plumage: the bright yellow we are beginning to see was there all winter and is revealed as the dull feather edges wear away. That's why we see lots of splotchy ones. In breeding plumage females are also yellow, but not so intense as males.
Click to expand...
Thank you, as always, for your concise information! It isn't always easy or intuitive to read something online and transfer it to what I am seeing out of my window.
The difference between the crisp yellow and black color and the scruffy feathers is very drastic!
P.S. Dandelions are an invasive species introduced from Eurasia.
Click to expand...
Boooooooo!!!
They are good for early pollinators so I am still gonna keep them around :rotfl:


@vickyday Typically, I have a huge mix of goldfinches that show up together. I hope that means baby goldfinches too ♥
 
My Italian grandparents made dandelion greens and white beans over polenta for dinner. My grandma would pick them from her back yard.
Wine sounds much more fun. :drinkbuddies:
 
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