More than a Molt?

For a week now, we have had an especially ragged American Goldfinch visit our feeders. As you know, the goldfinches undergo two moltings every year; once in the spring for their summer plumage and once in the fall for the winter plumage. Most of the finches here are molting now.

This particular goldfinch is quite different from the others. So different in fact, that I wonder if he has some leucistic properties along with his molting. He is much lighter in color with his main body more white and light gray than yellow. His wings are dark black and his chest is more yellow than the rest of his body.

I have tried to photograph him in a tree, but he eats from the feeders, or drinks from the birdbath and then disappears into the woods. I haven't seen him in a tree so I haven't had a good look at his chest.

I am far from an expert on birds. If you have an opinion about this goldfinch, I would love to hear it.

Headlines from our newspaper: "Gas lines shorter, most stations out of gas."

Well, of course the lines are short if there is no gas. Two stations received small supplies of gasoline this morning and sold out within two hours. We're still fine, although it would be nice to drive through the mountains again. Hopefully the shortages will end soon and we can "splurge" and take a drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway.