We can ID this heron as a juvenile Little Blue Heron because it is all white and has pale gray lores and pale gray bill with a dark end.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
PAIR OF AMERICAN GOLDFINCH ON THISTLE, WAGON WHEEL RD., BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE, COLLIER COUNTY, FL
In the first two photos the male American Goldfinch is on the left and the female on the right. The third photo is of the male and the fourth is of the female.
The male American Goldfinch is in the process of molting from nonbreeding to breeding plumage. Its forehead is starting to get black, but not yet completely and it is starting to get more bright yellow, both above and below. Its bill is also starting to change color from gray to pinkish.
The female goldfinch is also in the process of molting from nonbreeding to breeding plumage. It is getting some pale yellow color and its bill is also starting to change color. The female never gets as yellow as the male and does not have a black forehead.
The American Goldfinch especially likes to feed on the seeds of thistle, which is where we found them.
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