Moulting is hard to do...

The seasons are definitely changing around here (finally!) - the goldfinch males are starting to get decked out in their mating plumage! How cute!

It sure is an awkward "in-between" stage though...he looks a little moth-eaten as he changes from his dull, female-like winter feathers to his bright and colorful canary-yellow summer hues. (Forgive the poor quality of the photos, it's hard to get a clear shot from the kitchen.) :)




Here's a pic of what he'll look like when he's done (the guy in the middle).

I've heard a lot of new sparrows singing in the trees the last couple of days, I think some have returned from their winter journey. Yay! Spring, spring, spring!! (It helps that it's also my birthday at the end of the month, I'm a little April biased!)