Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
Content and photos by James Giroux
Becoming a birder opens your eyes to a new world of color and bird species that were always right under your nose. After becoming a birder, there are some birds that you can’t believe you didn’t notice before you were a birder. The Lesser Goldfinch is in that category. The male is a striking blend of black, yellow and white that is very eye-catching. But, as its name implies, it is a small goldfinch, and if you don’t have binoculars, it’s not easy to see.
There are three Goldfinch species in North America: Lesser, Lawrence’s and American – all beautiful. The American Goldfinch can be seen in all of the lower 48 states. Lawrence’s is mostly in California, and Lesser is found in the Southwest U.S. all the way down into South America.
Despite its smaller size, the Lesser Goldfinch will chase away Lawrence’s at both the feeder and the nest site.
A great place to hear and see this bird in Austin is Commons Ford Park. Listen for a high-pitched sighing sound, or a fast “chut-chut-chut”. Males and females are often seen feeding at the tops of tall flowers that have gone to seed. They are very social birds, and are often in large groups of a dozen or more.
Depending on where you live, the Lesser Goldfinch can be a fairly easy bird to attract to your yard. It is especially fond of nyjer thistle seeds, which can be placed in a traditional bird feeder or in a thistle “sock”.
The female Lesser Goldfinch is not as flashy, and does not have the black back, or the lemon yellow underparts. She is similar to a female non-breeding American Goldfinch. The female Lesser has a greenish back and yellow undertail compared to the American which has a gray-brown back and white undertail.
Lesser Goldfinch – female
There is regional variation in the back color of the male as one moves west. Here in Central Texas, the back of the male is completely black…
Austin, TX
In west Texas, the back contains a variable amount of green…
Big Bend National Park
And in California, the top of the head is black, and the back is dark green…
Southern California
For my money, I like the Texas version with the all black back. Which one is your favorite?
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