Lesser Goldfinch

Overview

The lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) is a small finch native to the Americas. It may be the smallest true finch in the world, ranging from 9 to 12 cm in length. The species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its vast range.

Identification

• Males feature bright yellow underparts and large white patches in the tail and wings, with back coloration varying from green to black depending on the subspecies.
• Females and immatures possess grayish olive-green upperparts, yellowish underparts, and a dark grey bill, lacking the extensive white tail markings of males.
• The bird exhibits an undulating flight pattern accompanied by a harsh 'chig chig chig' call or high-pitched whistles.
• Its song consists of a prolonged, phrased warble or twitter that often incorporates imitations of other species.

Habitat

Ranging from the southwestern United States to Peru and Venezuela, the lesser goldfinch inhabits almost any area with trees or shrubs, avoiding only dense forests. It is common in the Pacific Northwest and frequently visits feeders in the southwestern United States.

Diet

This species feeds primarily on tree buds and weed seeds, often visiting feeders provided with thistle socks. Geophagy has also been observed in this species.

Did you know?

The specific epithet psaltria is derived from Ancient Greek, meaning a female harpist. This small bird is frequently mistaken for a New World warbler if its distinctive finch bill is not clearly visible.