symbiotic – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

Male American Goldfinch, Thistles, Ants and Aphids

By Mia McPherson|July 25th, 2020|Categories: American Goldfinches, Birds, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, American Goldfinch, ants, aphids, canyon, Carduus nutans, eating, farm, feasting, finch, finches, foraging, goldfinch, goldfinches, honeydew, male, mountains, Musk Thistle, mutualistic relationship, secretions, Spinus tristis, symbiotic, thistle|

Two days ago the first bird I photographed high in the mountains was an adult male American Goldfinch clinging to thistles that were covered in ants and aphids.