European Goldfinch - Toronto

[Brian Bailey]

I realize they're not listable, since it's almost certainly an escapee, but it was still exciting to see a European Goldfinch at Humber Bay East today.

I think this is a first year female.  In the head-on shot the yellow on the face is just starting to turn red.  I'm posting here for documentary evidence, not artistic or technical merit!



If you're wondering, she was eating dandelion seeds:  a taste of home! :wink:

BB

[Reuven_M]

Nice find. I've seen european goldfinch, greenfinch and chaffinch in a pet store - seemed odd to find this cage among cages of zebra finches, nutmeg mannakins and budgies!

[Irene]

Cool sighting

[Tommy]

My version of the European Goldfinch...
bird #2.. more red on face

[Brian Bailey]

Much better images than mine!  Not only more red on the face, but the black cowl looks darker as well.

I'm not too familiar with this species, but I think these are both first year females.  I don't think they retain the yellow face for very long, so I expect if they survive, they will both have red faces fairly soon.

BB

[thouc]

As far as I know the sexes look the same, but I agree it's a juvenile molting into adult plumage.

[Rob'in'To]

Cool sighting regardless if they are not listable.

I told a guide on a walk one day about 3 buzzing around in Niagara on the Lake and he scoffed that they are a zero rating and shouldn't even be mentioned.  Woah, down boy!   :evil:

[Reuven_M]

An interesting article about them here:
http://www.rrbo.org/conservation-scienc ... eurobirds/
They also used to breed around New York City, apparently died out now.

[Brian Bailey]

Cool sighting regardless if they are not listable.

I told a guide on a walk one day about 3 buzzing around in Niagara on the Lake and he scoffed that they are a zero rating and shouldn't even be mentioned.  Woah, down boy!   :evil:

Listing can really take the fun out of things!  True, it would be far more remarkable if we really thought this bird had traveled across the Atlantic under it's own power rather than escaping from a cage somewhere in Ontario, but it's still interesting to watch a bird that shouldn't be here trying to survive on its own.

BB

[egret]

what a pretty bird!

tks for posting

Egret