Lesser Goldfinch

Carduelis psaltriaOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Finches (Fringillidae)
Lesser Goldfinch Portrait_2
  Splitbar
Range Map for Lesser Goldfinch

Overview

Lesser Goldfinch: Small finch with dark back (black in the east, dark green in the west), black crown, bright yellow underparts. Wings, tail black with white markings. Forages in shrubs, brush, weedy fields for seeds and insects. Swift flight, alternates rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

Range and Habitat

Lesser Goldfinch: Resident from Washington, Oregon, and northern Nevada east to northern Colorado and Texas, and south beyond the U.S.-Mexico border. Eastern race is found from northern Colorado southward through Texas and westward to Utah and Arizona. Western race occurs from Utah westward to Columbia River and southward into Mexico. Preferred habitats include oak savannas, woodlands, and suburban gardens.

Splitbar

Listen:

Your computer does not have flash installed, please visit Macromedia.com to get flash.

Voice Text

"tee-yee", "cheeo"

Splitbar

Related Birds:

Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Lawrence's Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
Oriental Greenfinch
.

All contents © Copyright 2003-2005 Mitch Waite Group. All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced without written permission from Mitch Waite Group. Privacy Policy

Percevia® Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The Percevia field guides, database and search protocol patent pending.

The best bird guide and bird watching search engine to identify birds!

Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Family Buntings, Finches, Sparrows (Emberizidae)_blue
Species Carduelis psaltria
Length4.5 Inches
Wingspan8 Inches

Lesser Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch: Small finch with dark back (black in the east, dark green in the west), black crown, bright yellow underparts. Wings, tail black with white markings. Forages in shrubs, brush, weedy fields for seeds and insects. Swift flight, alternates rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

● Song: "tee-yee", "cheeo"

● Foraging & Feeding: Lesser Goldfinch: Diet consists mostly of seeds.

● Breeding & nesting: Lesser Goldfinch: Three to six light blue eggs are laid in a twiggy nest built in a bush or low tree. Incubation is approximately 12 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Lesser Goldfinch: Female and juvenile American Goldfinches have browner upperparts, pale bills, and lack white wing patches.

Flight Pattern

High bouncy swift flight with rapid wing beats.
Lesser Goldfinch Body Illustration_2
● Range & Habitat: Lesser Goldfinch: Resident from Washington, Oregon, and northern Nevada east to northern Colorado and Texas, and south beyond the U.S.-Mexico border. Eastern race is found from northern Colorado southward through Texas and westward to Utah and Arizona. Western race occurs from Utah westward to Columbia River and southward into Mexico. Preferred habitats include oak savannas, woodlands, and suburban gardens.
BreedingMonogamous
Population
MigrationNorthern birds migrate
Weight0.3 Ounces