This is definitely a Lesser Goldfinch, but could it be a black-backed rather than the green-backed? I noticed a lot more black on the head coming down to the neck and the back is darker than my other birds.
This message was edited Oct 12, 2010 10:15 PM
Here's the photo showing more of the back.
Looks like an intergrade, it isn't solid black, but not green either. Sibley says "virtually all west of CO and NM are green-backed .... the average amount of black increases clinally to the south and east". The phrase 'virtually all' does rather imply not absolutely all, that some can occur in the 'wrong' colour area.
Resin
Thank you Resin. Since my goldfinches are still changing colors, I'm going to keep an eye on this one to see if it gets darker.
