Well, I was asked for this photo so here it is, an American Goldfinch female eating seeds of Helianthus, native sunflowers.
These birds are a common sight in North America, especially in the summer months. With their cheerful and energetic personalities, they’re hard to miss! American Goldfinches are known for their love of seeds, especially thistle and sunflower seeds, and are often seen hanging out at bird feeders.
Aside from their distinctive yellow plumage, American Goldfinches are also known for their musical calls. Their songs are high-pitched and cheerful, making them a delightful addition to any backyard. During the breeding season, male Goldfinches put on quite the show, flaunting their yellow plumage and singing their hearts out to attract a mate.
American Goldfinches are also known for their ability to adapt to changing habitats. In the winter months, they often form large flocks and can be seen in fields and agricultural lands, where they feed on weed seeds and waste grain. This adaptability has allowed them to thrive in a wide range of habitats, from rural areas to urban parks.
Today was one of those days when I found myself enormously grateful for the rain that finally cooled off the unrelenting sticky heat. Temperature in high 90s and humidity in high 80s or 90s all week now. The kind of heat that has you all sweaty as soon as you get out of the shower. Almost makes me feel like what was the point of the shower.
I have at least 3 hummingbirds in the garden right now. One is a juvenile male who is just beginning to get his lovely red gorget. He’s overflowing with testosterone and thinks that he owns all of the feeders, so he rushes around and dive-bombs any other hummer trying to get to a feeder. He can’t possible protect all of them, but boy does he ever try! This show is much better than TV.
There seems to be a new hatch of Summer Azures. These are teeny blue butterflies about the size of your thumbnail. But they are all over my Eupatorium purpureum (Joe Pye Weed). They are so tiny you have to watch closely to spot them, but they are simply gorgeous!
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