Sounds like a house finch. The winter plumage of the Am. gold finch is more olive than browm with distinct black and white bars. Too, I currently have lots of gold finches and strangely enough, there is one already in full breeding plumage! Donna

my sister has tons of birds around her place and many eat off the ground under the seed feeders. she just about gave up on feeding birds cause the stray cats wound lay under her shrubs and bushes and pounce on the birds. She found some green enameled fence at home depot and put 4 green metal fence posts in the ground and wraped the fence around them. it did not take long for the birds to get used to it and the green color was not very noticeable except close up because it blended in with the surrounding plants. she can still fill the seed feeders from a short step ladder. and says she has not lost any birds lately.

I have fed goldfinches for several years. About four years ago I got tons of them in early September. I remember seeing up to twelve on my sock feeder while more waited in line for a spot. Each year since has had less. I've seen one set of youngsters in the last week, but that's it. There are usually more goldies at my feeders in rainy weather, but it hasn't rained in three weeks. I think one reason I get fewer goldies now is other people around here have gotten feeders and they are a bit closer to the nesting area than I am.

Looks like a purple finch. House finches don't have as much red on them. Thanks for posting this. Very pretty bird!