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American Goldfinch


American Goldfinch
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5252] (23221)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 200, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/1000 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-03-20 6:11
Viewed: 522
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
An American Goldfinch (Carduellis tristis, 13 cm) photographed at -20C at the Domaine de Maizerets in Quebec city.

From: www.birds.cornell.edu

A familiar and abundant small colorful bird, the American Goldfinch is frequently found in weedy fields and visiting feeders. It shows a particular fondness for thistles, eating the seeds and using the down to line its nest.
Description
Small bird.
Bill small, pointed, conical, and pink.
Body bright yellow to dull brown.
Wings dark with large white wingbars.
Tail short and notched.
Breeding male bright yellow with black cap and wings.
Size: 11-13 cm (4-5 in)
Wingspan: 19-22 cm (7-9 in)
Weight: 11-20 g (0.39-0.71 ounces)
Sex Differences
Summer male is bright yellow with a black cap whereas female is drab olive. Sexes similar and drab in winter.
Sound
Song a long series of twittering and warbling notes. Common contact call a "tsee-tsi-tsi-tsit," often given in flight. May be described as "per-chic-o-ree" or "po-ta-to-chip."
Conservation Status
Abundant and widespread. Populations appear stable.
Other Names
Chardonneret jaune (French)
Dominiquito viajero, Dominiquito triste (Spanish)
Cool Facts
The American Goldfinch changes from winter plumage to breeding plumage by a complete molt of its body feathers. It is the only member of its family to have this second molt in the spring; all the other species have just one molt each year in the fall.
The American Goldfinch is one of the latest nesting birds. It usually does not start until late June or early July, when most other songbirds are finishing with breeding. The late timing may be related to the availability of suitable nesting materials and seeds for feeding young.
The American Goldfinch is gregarious throughout the year. In winter it is found almost exclusively in flocks. In the breeding season it feeds in small groups. Whether it maintains breeding territories is debatable.
The American Goldfinch is mostly monogamous, but a number of females switch mates after producing a first brood. The first male takes care of the fledglings while the female goes off to start another brood with a different male.
Art_R, CeltickRanger, mariki, jaycee, eqshannon, Luis52, vanderschelden, Royaldevon, meyerd, nglen, gerbilratz, Juyona, maurydv, albert, goldyrs, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To timonejoon: Thanks!EOSF1 1 03-28 20:36
To nglen: Flash!EOSF1 1 03-22 14:45
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-03-20 6:15]

Hello Mario,
Gorgeous shot, the color and details are amazing.
Love the blue BG that brings out those yellow tones so well.
TFS..Sky

Hello Mario,
Great capture, excellent composition and pov, beautiful colors and nice light, superb sharpness and depth of field, nice details and great pose.
Angela

Hi Mario,

Very pure and sharp shot. Harmony of atmosphere, colours, lightning. Very well done. tfs. Stev

  • Great 
  • Art_R Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 201 W: 16 N: 483] (1995)
  • [2008-03-20 7:23]

I really like this photo , nice details on the bird , good contrast from the blue sky , the extra splash of color from that old leaf , and the composition , is great.

TFS

Art

salut Mario

quelle belle image, d'abord je vais commencer par ton POV
en contre-plongé que j'aimes beaucoup, excellent DOF,
j'aimes les tons des couleurs de l'arrière-plan,
excellente netteté et détails du plumage, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • sray Silver Star Critiquer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 0] (242)
  • [2008-03-20 8:19]

Bonjour Mario
Très belle prise avec une belle composition et beaucoup de détails dans le plumage . J'aime cet environnement naturel avec les branches . Je dois te dire que je n'ai pas encore réussi à prendre une photo satisfaisante de ce bel oiseau . Alors je te dis un gros Bravo !
Merci
Serge

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-03-20 8:51]

Hi Mario,

A beautiful Goldfinch. Excellent details throughout but the face is exceptionally sharp. Beautiful colors, wonderful pose, lovely background. I love the compositiom on the diagonal branch.

Jane

Ahhh yes...there is that deep azure sky and up north yet....I am so used to seeing it down in Arizona via Jane, who I hope is buying herslef a new Nikon as we speak:-) Very nicely done sir!
Bob

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1026 W: 5 N: 2888] (10447)
  • [2008-03-20 9:22]

Hola Mario.
Muy hermosa la foto. Exelentes colores y alta definicion.
Saludos
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-03-20 11:22]

Hi Mario!
What a pretty little bird you show us today!
I love the composition of this one.
Superb clarity and detail.
Nice vibrent colours.
Very well done,
Joe

Hello Mario,
Very good colors and light...
Nice blue sky.
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hello Mario,

My first thought when I saw this was bird's eye view! Doh!

Your composition and pov are excellent!
The bird is sharp against the blue b/g and the details of colour and texture are superb!
The light is just catching its upper breast to make it shine and there is a soft ruffling of the feathers to give it character!

kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • meyerd Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 412 W: 64 N: 1225] (3835)
  • [2008-03-20 12:20]

Hi Mario,
another of your perfect portraits with a special touch: here it is the red leaf and the wonderful light that makes the difference. Superb shot, Mario!
Best regards
Dietrich

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-03-20 12:24]
  • [+]

Hi Mario. very good use of the light to give fine detail and clear crisp colours. it stands out so well against the clear blue sky . this is something we dont have at the moment just dull days. A very nice POV/DOF. well done TFs.
Nick..

Ps is the flash the one in the camera or an add on.

Hi Mario, The DoF is amazing, it sets this bird off to perfection. Stunning details around beak and eye area, TFS

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2108 W: 6 N: 2116] (13589)
  • [2008-03-20 15:51]

Hola Mario,
excelente captura, color y pose,
agradable trabajo,
bonito plumaje,
saludos amigo.

Splendida immagine, ottimi POV e composizione, superba definizione
e magnifica brillantezza dei colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1107 W: 6 N: 3063] (11326)
  • [2008-03-20 17:05]

Salut Mario,cette fois une facon un peu different de montrer,j'aime beaucoup la lumiere sur le visage de l'oiseau et le ciel derriere,merci de partager et mes plus gros compliments,Luciano

Bonsoir Mario,

Très bonne composition. Excellente netteté. Très belle lumière et couleurs.
Bonne soirée,
Mariki

Bonjour Mario,
Très belle lumière sur la gorge jaune de ce Goldfinch
Bon piqué, en résumé une excellente photo, mais prise a -20c ce n'est pas pour moi!!! tu es bien courageux pour sortir par un froid pareil!
Bien cordialement
Albert

Mario!
I'm back!
And what beautiful shots I'm coming back to!
I love this cute bird and you've got some very fine details of his on disply!
Very well done!
Cheers!
Goldy

Hi Mario

I tried to clone the read leave on top of the bird and the result was not bad. I can't decide about the position of that leave. Is it good for composition or is it kind of eye catching and absorb the first look!
What is your idea? The bird details and colors are amazing. Perfect shot.
well done
TFS
Babak

Bonsoir Mario,

Une bonne prise de vue rapprochée du chardonneret jaune sur la branche. Il semble gonflé ses plumes pour se protéger du froid. Les détails et les couleurs de l'oiseau sont clairs et précis. La lumière a un bel effet sur les couleurs. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

Great capture, excellent composition .

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