Posted by Gary Potter (198.81.17.163) on November 08, 2001 at 21:47:49:
I think that the right bird is too obviously a Lawrence's Goldfinch for most of the reasons given. Is there something that we're not seeing here? Is this one really a mystery?
My first impression of the left bird was American, although the bill seems too dark for American in early September, the white undertail all the way to the tip, and general coloration seem to lead to American. It also seems to be aquiring that brownish coloring around the head that Americans show in winter plumage, so maybe the bill is darkening a bit early also.