Acrylic on canvas

American goldfinches molt twice yearly: bright yellow for breeding and drab olive for winter. Males’ yellow comes from carotenoid-rich seeds (thistle/nyjer, sunflower). Frequent at backyard feeders, they nest late—mid to late summer—when seeds peak, building cup nests lined with thistle down. Social outside breeding, they form winter flocks. Flight is undulating; breeding males show a black cap and white wing bars.