This was taken on a rainy day by another family member. There are no other pictures of this specific bird.
It took me some time looking at this picture as to why this doesn't look right, then it hit me. It has no wingbars. But I cannot see that it is anything else based on our location (Iowa) and that it is eating Nyjer seed. Could this be a juvenile or maybe something else all together?
Thank you.
It is an American Goldfinch, a very worn (and wet!) adult male starting moult into winter plumage.
Resin
Just to add - the white part of the feather, being unpigmented, is more easily degraded by ultraviolet light, etc. So the white wingbar can more easily wear off by the end of the summer, until new feathers appear with the moult.
Resin
Ah, thank you so much for explaining all that. This is why I enjoy birds, there is so much to learn about them. The American Goldfinch is one that stays around all winter, but I've never really seen their transformation between seasons. This is the first time we've kept seed out for them all summer.
