Column: Male goldfinches hiding in plain sight

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 15, 2020

The quick answer to the question – where did the male American goldfinches go – is that they are hiding in plain sight! Birds have to molt their feathers at least once a year, or in the case of most of our songbirds, twice. All birds have to do this because feathers will eventually wear down. There are some other advantages to changing feathers throughout the year, as well. ~ Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox