Shy

Hi Sandy, I like the vertical comp since the perch is such a major part of the attractiveness of this photo.

Peter

A very interesting bird. I think this is a male Lesser Goldfinch without yellow pigment in the feathers. Something I've never encountered anywhere.

This is a real beauty Sandy. I love the colours and textures. Great image!!

So pretty Sandy. Love the perch

Very nice photo, Sandy! The perch and vertical comp really help make the shot; the blooms are prefectly distributed.

Nicely composed, Sandy. The perch makes this image for me. Nice pose and expression and a clean background make this a pretty image.

I am also not sure what this species is - i was going to guess a Junco, but the colors don't quite match.

Pretty little bird. I enjoy the perch very much. Nice image.

Here's one of my Lesser Goldfinch shots for comparison. I've desaturated the bird and composited it back with the full color version. Compare the dark areas, the wingbars, and the bill size and shape to Sandy's image.

Sandy: was the bird actually this pale? Was it alone or with a flock?

Nice composition, Sandy. I'd be interested in learning something about this bird as well. It does look awfully gray.

Hi, Richard - I think you're right about the ID. I didn't title it other than "Shy" becuase I wasn't sure what it was. Yours has a much darker crown, though - but everything else fits.

Yes, it was almost this pale - I looked back at my RAW file just now and there was the very slightest touch of yellow that was lost when I brought down the bright green BG a bit - so small i didn't even notice it til I looked again.

As I recall, there were about 10 sparrows and several ? finches in and around these bushes, not in a flock, and I noticed this one because of it's unusual coloring.

Sandy

Nice color and I like the soft light. LIke how the perch adds a splash of color to the image,

Really like the photo. The perch is great. And Richard, Impressive that you could recognize this bird without the yellow.

The photo: very nice, I like the subdued light and it's an excellent perch. Good detail and background.

The ID: First, a note to all avian photographers who want to learn to ID birds. Note Richard did not rely upon color to make his ID. Color can lead you wrong. Bill shape, body shape, and feather patterns are much more reliable, along with location and season.

My take is a leucistic Lesser Goldfinch. Birds of North America says about juveniles, "birds in Juvenal plumage resemble adult female, but buffier beneath, browner above, and have buffier edging on greater wing-coverts and tertials. Juvenal body-feathers also somewhat looser and fluffier than those of adults." But even juveniles show more yellow than this after fledging. Sandy, you might want to contact the Marin Audubon Society and let them know you may have a quite good photo of a leucistic Lesser Goldfinch.

Very interesting shot! It appears as if perch has stolen all the colours fron the bird.
Jagdeep Rajput

Hi Sandy,
Very nice perch and good image clarity throughout. I like the complementary background. My only nit is I find the bird a little tight in the frame.
Thanks for posting,
Ronnie G.

Lovely shot of a strangely colored bird Sandy

You are on a roll...beautiful perch with those flowers. I again like the vertical framing and the detail on the bird and the sharpness are top notch.

The perch sets this one apart, Sandy. Very nice image.

Jim, I called the Marin Audubon society, as you suggested, and they are very interested in using this photo. Baylands also was interested - they have seen and had reports of this little guy, but no one has a photo.
Thanks for the idea!

Sandy