And No Color Here

Yesterday I called attention to the relatively bright plumage of the Pine Warblers at this time of year. Note that word: "relatively". For in the summer they are every bit as yellow but are far surpassed by the gluttonous American Goldfinches. But that's summer. In winter, the goldfinches are drab, drab, drab. They have all lost their bright hues and are an amazingly nondescript lot. I can only identify them on the basis of the distinctive wing feathers. Even a skilled naturalist, Sunday, was briefly fooled by the goldfinches as we undertook a nature walk under his guidance. Heck, even the Yellow Rumped Warblers, in their winter plumage are more interesting! Of course, the goldfinch appetite will be unaffected. And that's what I really need to watch these days...