Male American Goldfinch in breeding colors, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California.

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A male american goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) with its breeding plummage in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California. The American Goldfinch changes from winter plumage to breeding plumage by a complete molt of its body feathers. It is the only member of its family to have this second molt in the spring; all the other species have just one molt each year in the fall (All About Birds).

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Size: 5120px × 3413px
Photo credit: © Kip Evans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: american, animal, anza, bird, birds, borrego, breeding, california, carduelis, colors, desert, finch, gold, goldfinch, land, male, park, plummage, state, tristis, yellow