For 2 days now I have had these birds on the ground near the feeders. From the red patch I think they are Goldfinch but I can't see any yellow on the wing. One is a lot paler than the other so I am thinking that's the female? I've looked at pictures on the bird identifier and I can't see anything else they could be so is this my very first pair of Goldfinch? Sorry about the poor photograph but it's the best I could get without scaring them away.
Hi Cuddicat, yes you are spot on with goldfinch.
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Hi Cuddicat,
Yes, you have goldfinches. As for sexing, speak to Buzzard who knows about these things! Goldfinches are difficult to sex unless you have them in your hand. Male and female have the same colourings. There are 2 ways to distinguish them. The first is the red face. The male's red face extends slightly more behind the eye than the female - but only slightly and you need a good close up shot to see this. The second way is by the colour of their nasal hair - and I'm not going into this!!!!!
Buzzard started some excellent threads on sexing birds and gave us all some links. This is the one he gave us for the goldfinch
http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/431_GoldfinchC.carduelis.pdf
Cheers, Linda.
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Thanks for that link Sparrow it's really informative. I'm wondering now if the other was a juvenile rather than a female. There were 3 of them about an hour ago. I will persevere and try to get better photos.
Great birds to have in the garden and their song is lovely. Put a nyger seed feeder out and you will have lots before you know it.
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
I have a nyger feeder and they went on it for the first time this afternoon. I also managed to get a couple of better pictures.
Well done for your lovely pictures. I think they are female.