Goldfinches Disappearing??

Goldfinches are year round residents in New Jersey so I did not understand why I was no longer seeing them at my wild bird feeders. The reasons are pretty simple and now I feel better informed.

• The truth is that goldfinches haven’t gone anywhere they just look completely different from their summer selves.
  
  The males have exchanged their bright yellow feathers and black head spot for a warm taupe-colored plumage, and now resemble summer females. Just about the only sign that these little brownish birds are goldfinches is the distinctive white striping on black wings.

• Also due to a shifting sort of migration. The adult goldfinches do head south, but they're replaced by adults from farther north that move southward.
  
  There may be short periods when a neighborhood lacks goldfinches, but it's a void quickly filled by new arrivals.

• Finally Goldfinches are fiends for wild seed. Unlike most other songbirds, which consume large numbers of insects, goldfinches live on an unvarying diet of seeds, seeds and more seeds.
  
  And fall is nature's seediest season, offering an abundant buffet in gardens, parks and some yards. But any day now, most of the flower stalks will be emptied of their seeds. That's when these small, light-brown birds will show up at feeders once again, snapping up nyger, sunflower or safflower seed.

So after taking a closer look at the visitors to my wild bird feeders I see goldfinches are there!! Just with different coloring. I must say I really am a novice when it comes to this backyard bird watching. But that's okay.

I haven't really noticed the migration issue but it is good to know. And at this point in November most seeds are gone so I really have noticed that impact either.

Got most of my information from St Paul Audobon Society.

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Some other posts that may be of interest:

Birds Need your Bird feeders this Fall

Peanut Feeder for Birds

November Guide for Attracting Birds to your Backyard