Robert / Seattle
Well-known member
Gentoo said:So what would you guess it is? Is it a distinctly smaller then normal American Goldfinch that happens to have more green on it than what we should see in an area where Lesser Goldfinches are quite common? The only other Goldfinch, indeed small Carduelis species possible in central California is the Lawrence's Goldfinch which this bird clearly isn't.
You got me! These two birds are in apparent contradiction to one another. One small, on very much larger. One pink billed, one dark billed. Each at very different stages in spring moulting. At this point I'm guessing that the smaller bird is also an American (see accompanying male, in rear of middle photo) and that the larger bird is an anomolously large American -- Alex's "Frankenstein", if you will.
Neither would I be surprised by an identification twist posed in a future post. One thing is for sure, though: I appreciate Gail's sense of humor.