Rufous Hummingbirds have returned, causing much angst among the resident Anna’s Hummers. This guy caught my eye with his gorget of copper, gold, and green.
Notice how the colors change with the angle of the light.
Here’s a female rufous, with her few irridescent dots and buffy sides.
She flashes her tail colors when the male is being too pesky.
I’m not sure what this American Goldfinch was doing, but he was checking out the hummingbird feeder for over a minute.
The great advantage to being a slovenly gardener is the chance to see the local wildlife using your plants long after they have died. A mixed flock of resident finches passed through recently, feeding on seeds from neglected flower corpses.
This American Goldfinch was munching on Purple Coneflower seeds.
a seldom-studied, but diagnostic view of a male House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
A Bewick’s Wren often hunts for insects in the dead leaves of the clematis, but I doubt he will ever sit still long enough for a photograph.
Five years ago, it would have been an unusual treat to find a Lesser Goldfinch at my feeders. But in recent years, this species has expanded its range in the Portland area and now nests on our property. A large flock of American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins still crowds the feeders, but the Lessers assert themselves quite well. Soon the Americans and siskins will leave and the Lessers will have the nyger feed to themselves.
Lesser and American Goldfinches
Ethical Birder 