Date: 1/27/26 10:53 am From: Butch Tetzlaff <butchchq8...> Subject: Re: Early Spring plumage change in an American Goldfinch flock
I banded a bunch of goldfinches in Bella Vista feeders last winter and
noticed that many were already molting into flecks of summer plumage at
this time of year. I would assume it is because molt is energetically
expensive, so the longer one can spread it out, the more one can produce
high quality feathers.
Butch
Bella Vista
On Tue, Jan 27, 2026 at 12:21 PM Ashlyn Ohm <4ever4hiskingdom...>
wrote:
> I have noticed this in Garland County. A couple of my AMGO are already
> changing plumage! I too was shocked by the earliness of the change.
>
> On Jan 27, 2026, at 12:19 PM, Jay Jones <jonesjay62...> wrote:
>
> For several weeks now, my sunflower kernel feeder has been mobbed by a
> flock of 20+ AMGO. in the last few days I have noticed many individuals
> showing a faint summer golden hue with a few showing splashes of vivid gold
> in various spots.
>
> Isn't this change a bit early? Have other feeder watchers in NWA seen
> plumage changes in their AMGO clients?
>
> I wonder if the highly nutritious menu at my place is playing a part?
>
> Rick Jones
> Siloam Springs, AR
>
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