Date: 1/27/26 11:17 am From: Renn Tumlison <TUMLISON...> Subject: Re: Early Spring plumage change in an American Goldfinch flock
I see the same mix in Arkadelphia.
Renn Tumlison
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From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Butch Tetzlaff <butchchq8...>
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 12:53:13 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
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...><mailto:<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.
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?
