Unusual Goldfinch?

[Julian Robinson <>]

It probably won't excite anyone on this list when I report my happy discovery that we have regular European Goldfinches here in Narrabundah lower, at least  in winter, but I still lov'em and they make a nice change from black and white birds that seem to be the only ones we get on the golf course.

Anyway yesterday a lone Goldfinch was sitting in a tree all fluffed up and looking perhaps unhappy.  I've never seen a Goldfinch on its own before.  Then I noticed it's strange beak appearance which I enclose in case it is interesting. I don't know whether this is a rare or well known bird pox, or perhaps just the remains of eating something sticky .  Do flocking birds often sit alone?