It’s so nice to have American goldfinches back in the GNG, even if they are now in their non-breeding plumage. Most people think of this bird as being bright yellow with an orange beak, but they are quite dull this time of year, not molting back into their glorious gold until next spring. But there is one constant I.D. feature you can use in either plumage; the difference in the appearance of their wing-bars. Lesser goldfinches’ white wing-bars usually appear thin and blurry, while American goldfinches’ white wing-bars appear bold with sharp edges.
American goldfinch