American Goldfinch

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American Goldfinch
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1266 W: 103 N: 4311] (19463)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-25
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, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Yellow Birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-07 4:21
Viewed: 429
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
It's good to be back! :-) Here's a male American Golfinch (Carduelis tristis, 13cm) that I shot last week in my garden.

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.
goldyrs, cataclysta, MMM, maurydv, zulfu, eqshannon, gerbilratz, darwin, Alex99, jaycee, vanderschelden, Hil, CeltickRanger, coasties, albert, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To MMM: Merci!EOSF1 1 05-09 13:33
To gerbilratz: Thanks Howard!EOSF1 1 05-08 07:46
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Critiques [Translate]

What a lovely capture, Franco.You've got a very cute subject here.We see some very delicate details on display as well.
Cheers!
Goldy

Hi Mario
One of you the best shots. Simply fantastic. I like great grey/blue/green ;-) background. Composition, exposure, sharpness, everything is perfeact. Great contrast vivid bird VS relatively dark background
I like it very much
Krzysztof

hi mario
its a perfect shot with a good field depth . but the branch its not very good .
thanks for sharing .

Hi Mario

Great shot of this little goldfinch. The yellow plumage contrasts nicely with the bluish green background.
Great sharpness and good composition.

Chris

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 0 N: 1457] (6594)
  • [2008-05-07 5:02]
  • [+]

Salut Mario
Bon retour.Bon POV et belle image bien en focus.Le detail est excellent.J'aime bien la pause de ton sujet.A quand la prochaine sorti ? je suis maintenant disponible la fin de semaine a l'exception de dimanche prochain.
Merci Michel

Bentornato. Bellissima immagine, ottimi POV e composizione verticale con il rametto sulla diagonale, eccellente nitidezza e bellissimi occhio e becco, magnifici i colori e BG. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 441 W: 0 N: 68] (472)
  • [2008-05-07 5:18]

Hello Mario, perfect shot! TFS. regards,Mehmet

I have them here somewhere...just must be patient...As always Mario and glad to have you back as well.
Bob

Welcome back Mario. good to see you back. How was "Trullie's vineyard"??? You've returned with a vengeance, displaying another perfect bird. The colours, depth of field and POv are first rate. Best regards h.

Great shot, DOF, POV and color management are nicely done.
TFS
Best regards,
Kean

Hi Mario
Wonderful capture with superb sharpness and detail
Lovely color and light
Nice glint in eye
Welcome back. tfs jon

Hello Mario,
I've missed you. Glad you're back.
Wonderful photo of this goldfinch. Sharpness, details, colours, pose and POV are excellent. And what an amazing BG. Very beautiful composition and DOF.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1133 W: 259 N: 2406] (10803)
  • [2008-05-07 8:52]

Hi Mario,

Welcome back,this is a colorfull capture with good details/sidelighting and BG,only the branch in the BG distracts a bit,anyway well done and tfs this upload,

Paul

Very beautifull color and light, also very sharp.I like the composition.thanks for sharing,
regards,
Nikos.

Salut Mario,bien revenu ici!!Je suis hereu de puovoir voir encore tes merveilleux oiseux,on commence avec ce magnifique jaune,parfait en contrast et couleurs,mes compliments pour ton travail,Luciano

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2935 W: 142 N: 4217] (13775)
  • [2008-05-07 9:29]

Hi Mario.
It is really good to be back here. You have gifted us next wonderful shot of a cute bird. Simple scene and brilliant image of the bird are looked perfectly. Great lights and shadows on the feathers, crisp sharpness of the image and nicely coloured absolutely smooth BG. Bravo and best wishes.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4022] (13255)
  • [2008-05-07 10:38]

Hi Mario,

Welcome back! A lovely Goldfinch posing so nicely for you. I love the expression on his face. Beautiful colors and wonderful details. A superb composition with the diagonal branch and perfect background.

Jane

Hello Marion,
Good portrait. Well composed "Yellow bird":-)
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 841 W: 67 N: 1555] (6903)
  • [2008-05-07 12:13]

Bonsoir Mario,

Excellente capture de ce chardonneret. Superbe composition. Parfaite netteté. Les couleurs sont splendides.
Bonne soirée,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 782 W: 11 N: 1380] (4759)
  • [2008-05-07 12:42]

Hi Mario

Wonderful capture of the beautiful American Goldfinch.
Its a very nice composition with a great POV and a lovely pose with the head slightly turned.
Very good details and superb colours too.

Hil

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2008-05-07 12:49]

Hi mario. good to see back from your hoiday i hope you had a great time. We have missed your fine bird shots. What a beautiful goldfinch to come back with Good detail and colours. a nice POV/DOF. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2008-05-07 13:42]

Hi Mario!!
A really pleasant suprise to find a shot from you in the gallery :-) I hope you enjoyed your holiday!
A gorgeous photo of a gorgeous bird!
Very nice colours and once again that teal-coloured BG is perfect.
Sharp and detailed with great clarity.
Superb composition and pose.
Very well done!

TFS!!

Joe

salut Mario

je suis content de te revoir parmi nous, bon retour de ton voyage,
belle image du Chardonneret jaune avec un excellent POV
et cadrage vertical, belle lumière venant sur le sujet,
et auss belle netteté et détails du plumage jaune, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3082 W: 231 N: 5811] (19540)
  • [2008-05-07 22:30]

Good to see you too, Mario. : )
Beautiful close-up of this finch...
Love the 3/4 profile and the catch light in the eye.
Rich colors and sharp details.
TFS. : )

Hi Mario

Wow... this s a gorgeous shot. Lovely bright plumage colours. Clear sharp details and perfect catchlight. :-)

Great to see you back Mario. You seem to always capture the birds in such a good position. The lighting sure gives off attention to the feather details. That is a very different background colour and it definitely compliments the yellow.
TFS.Doug

Bonjour Mario,
Comme d'habitude une superbe photo,bien cadrée et superbement exposée
Quel plaisir de pouvoir photographier de beau oiseaux dans son jardin, c'est ce qui me manque le plus içi a La Reunion, il y a tres peu d'oiseaux
Bien cordialement
Albert

Hello Mario,
Welcome back! Great shot, superb sharpness and depth of field, beautiful vivid colors the yellow is amazing, excellent details, lovely background and great catchlight.
Angela

Bonsoir Mario,
Belle prise de vue de ce chardonneret , magnifique pose et superbe détails , Belles couleurs et compostion, Très jolie photo avec une netteté superbe,
Bravo
Michel

Bonjour Mario,

Une belle image rapprochée de ce cahrdonneret jaune sur la branche. La prise de vue pemet de distinguer les détails et les couleurs du plumage de l'oiseau. Le sujet est bien cadré. La limière rehausse les couleurs. bonne journée.

Pierre

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