Hi Shelley,
I do believe you are seeing an American Goldfinch in HIS "in-between" stage. That's right about now,here in Maine! LOL In winter they are sort of an olive drab. Then they begin the spring transformation to brilliant yellow. Whenever I see a male who is way ahead of all the others I say...."Oh yeah, he's gonna get all the girls!"
It is quite a phenomenom. And the question I always ask is....do the feathers actually change color,or do they all fall out and get replaced?
Because I have never seen a bald or even half-bald male Goldfinch! But somehow, they go from drab to brilliant every time. And for Rose....
the Goldfinch and the Grosbeak are of the same family,hence the big fat beak. Although, the beak in the male Grosbeak changes color with the season, while the beak of the finch does not.
Wonderful birds, nonetheless.
~~~ruth~~~