Godlfinches

These small, colorful arrows that you see flashing here and there. I’ve always wondered what kind of bird it is and now I’ve found it. Also known in German as the Distelfink (relates to something like “Thristelfinch”) its bright, colorful plumage suddenly provides wonderful camouflage when it sits in the middle of a clump of thistle flowers. The strong beak is typical of finches. They use it to pluck the seeds of the prickly thistle and nibble on the kernels. You’d think they’d enjoy letting the leftovers fly into the wind.