I saw my first American Goldfinch thirty years ago as I was walking through a park. At first glance, I thought somebody’s parakeet had escaped. They are that bright a yellow. For the next few years, I saw them occasionally in our backyard. But they have been absent for many years.

But to my delight, this pair appeared at our feeders a few days ago. And I’ve been hearing both American and lesser goldfinches singing as I walk through the neighborhood.

Welcome back!

Male American goldfinchs have black head and wings, but canary-yellow back and belly. Bills on male American goldfinches are peach.

This female American goldfinch is less intense version of the male. She doesn’t get a black cap, either.

We also have smaller lesser goldfinches in our backyard. Male lesser goldfinches have black or very dark green down his back all the way from their heads to their tails, with canary-yellow on their undersides, and tan to grey bills.

Again, female lesser goldfinches are less intense versions of the males, without the black down the back. I took this shot of a female lesser goldfinch last July, when she was gathering nesting material.

These birds remind me of sunshine on the wing!