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This Morning Outside

by Diane Porter

September 11, 2011
Birdwatching Dot Com
Fairfield, Iowa

What a difference it makes to have new clothes! This young American goldfinch is in fresh new feathers, acquired after it fledged, this summer. Notice the nice, broad buffy wingbars on the dark wings. The wingbars are the tips of a row of feathers.

Young American GoldfinchPhoto copyright 2011 Michael and Diane Porter

However adult goldfinches, like the male below, have hardly any wingbars at all right now. By the end of the summer, the feather tips have worn away to nothing, leaving a completely black wing.

Adult Male GoldfinchPhoto copyright 2011 Michael and Diane Porter

Soon the adult goldfinches will get a new coat of feathers for the winter. The new feathers on the body will be drab green instead of gold. But the black wings will once again have light wingbars.

—Diane Porter

Outside Grid

See more pictures
from This Morning Outside

 

 

And for a closer look at birds...


36 inch Spiral
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