American Goldfinch

American Goldfinches, in their bright colors, bubbly songs and whiny little calls, seem so civilized and perhaps even cheerful. They’re exclusively seed-eaters. But I confess to knowing little about the private lives of goldfinches. I have never seen them fight.

Suddenly two male American Goldfinches erupted into the air Thursday at Springbrook Prairie. I turned the camera on them to get this sequence of tumbles and one actual attack.

It didn’t last very long and I don’t think anybody got hurt, but the intruder gave up his challenge to the victor’s territory.