Winter--Hanging in There!

[spedangie]

I caught this little goldfinch in one of my backyard cedar trees. He was hanging sidewise onto an icicle. The would wait until the icicle was about to release a drip from its bottom and grab a sip. I could not quite ever catch him in the act though. I do have water in a birdbath but he seemed to like his method! We have lots of goldfinches all year round, now they have lost their brilliant yellow summer color so they blend into the cedars. But still so much fun to watch! The second shot is of another goldfinch hiding among the cedar branches.

[jjdog2]

Love the bird on the icicle, that is something you don't see everyday. Well done!

jj

[ramcewan]

I believe that's a pine siskin - often times seen with goldfinches I too mistook the first one I saw for a goldfinch

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pine_siskin/id

I really like the shot of it hanging on the icicle, nice job

[hkmp50]

Great Ceasers ghost Angie, I took some of the icecicles the other day as I thought they were unusual, but did not get anything close to this. What a remarkable photograph

[spedangie]

Luck plays a big part in photos like the little finch on the icicle. I too had been primarily focusing on some of the interesting icicles hanging from my backyard cedars. As I was panning around the trees I suddenly noticed the bird perched sidewise on the melting icicle. I do have to admit he was most cooperative as he stayed put for awhile allowing me to get a number of shots--although I could never quite get one of him sipping from the end of his personalized drinking fountain!

[spedangie]

Originally Posted by ramcewan

I believe that's a pine siskin - often times seen with goldfinches I too mistook the first one I saw for a goldfinch

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pine_siskin/id

I really like the shot of it hanging on the icicle, nice job

Thanks for that great info and wonderful link. I have a ton of these guys wintering here and now I can clearly see the difference between them and the goldfinches that also frequent my backyard. I like being able to definitively know the various species that visit our feeders and the "allaboutbirds" link was most informative.