American goldfinch

I’m always happy to see a goldfinch. They’re common suburban birds in this part of Michigan, but no less interesting and beautiful for that. Once I started to notice them, I saw them everywhere - little flashes of color between bushes on my commute to work, chasing each other around a tree outside the kitchen window. They stick around through the winter and adopt a more muted look for the cold months. It’s always a sign of spring to see a male like this one, fully kitted out in his breeding regalia.