Saw my first American Goldfinches this morning as I watched my feeders

[ConcernedCanuk]

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It was a "couple" - a male and a female

here's the male



the female is much more subtle in colors



theory has it that most female birds are less conspicuous than male to protect them and their young, the bright colored male can distract predators.

Along with the Goldfinches were Purple Juncos, Sparrows - black capped, brown and white capped - chickadees, Blue Jays, and Grackles hanging around in the background

And many Robin red-breast strutting around

I have a wee area I call my "bird-garden"

and they were sure blooming today!!

luv my birdies

[Kolesar]

1. They stay in Ohio all winter

and eat the thistle seed we put out and last year's coneflowers.

[XemaSab]

2. There's three similar shorebirds called phalaropes

With all three species, the female is brightly colored and the male is dull.

You guessed it: as soon as the egg is out of the cloaca, the female skips town, leaving dad to incubate and rear the young.