Introduction

The state bird of New Jersey, we see quite a few American Goldfinches in our frontyard, particularly since we installed a thistle feeder.

First Encounter

My first encounter with an American Goldfinch (after I started paying attention in 2001) is lost to history, although I recall that for much of the period prior to 2010 I was frustrated by how infrequently I saw them. Here's my oldest photo on record which dates from August, 2010:

And, here from April, 2011, is the first photo on record of a female:

Subsequent Sightings

Once goldfinches started to show up in the yard they became regular visitors. One point of considerable interest is the change in look that occurs when these birds molt into winter plumage: