Is This An American Goldfinch?

[Jonathan J. Weber]

The reason that I ask is because I have never seen this color phase before with over nine years of photographing plumage variations for the species over all seasons of the year in my region of Northwestern New York State - over 100 photos in my digital collection. It strongly resembles one, but.....

The individual in these photos was with 5 Song Sparrows and 4 Common Yellowthroat Warblers feeding near a makeshift birdbath I placed at the base of a brush pile next to a dense woods.

There is a small resident flock of American Goldfinches in the immediate vicinity of that location that I watch daily. If this is a AMGO, I haven't seen it with that flock all season.

Any and all comments would be greatfully appreciated.

Regards,

Jonathan