David Bindas Garden: Bright Yellow Camouflage?

At first glance, one would not think that the bright yellow feathers of the male Goldfinch blend in with anything.

American Goldfinch

After all, he relies on his bright plumage to woo the ladies and win a mate.

Hey, good lookin'!

However, the Goldfinch is surprisingly hard to see in the garden!

Goldfinch and Cosmos sulphureus

I find it interesting that the yellow Goldfinch seems to enjoy the seeds of so many yellow flowers: sunflowers, cosmos, coreopsis, goldenrod, dandelion, and black-eyed susan, to name a few. Blending in while eating is good, I assume - less chance of becoming lunch yourself!

Goldfinch eating the seeds of a Black-eyed Susan

Of course Goldfinches do eat other seeds - they are notorious in their love of the seeds that come from the usually purple-flowering thistle. (In fact, the Genus name for Goldfinches, Carduelis, comes from the Latin word for 'thistle').

Here a Goldfinch is enjoying a sock of Nyjer seed. Many people call Nyjer seeds 'thistle seeds' because the goldfinches love them so much, but Nyjer seeds actually come from a completely different plant (an African yellow daisy Guizotia abyssinica)

I know I often have these beautiful finches in my yard even when I can't see them on the bird feeders. The little birds hide surprisingly well! Goldfinches even blend in fairly effectively with my plants that have golden-toned leaves.