Lesser Goldfinches

I wrote recently about American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) and think it's time to introduce you to their slightly smaller but my no means "lesser" cousin, the Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria).  They could be called "lesser" because they are less widespread across the United States than American Goldfinches and therefore less well-known.  Or maybe it's because they are slightly less brilliantly yellow (but only slightly).  Or it really could just be that they are half an inch shorter than their American Goldfinch kin (which is basically impossible to tell in the field where size can be deceptive).

 

 

Whatever the reason for the moniker, Lesser Goldfinches are a California bird you absolutely must get to know!  They are more common in California year-round than the American Goldfinch, and therefore more likely to delight you with their brilliant plumage, lovely song and seed-eating antics, wherever your travels take you. 

 

 

Like other finches, Lesser Goldfinches adore seeds and feed almost exclusively on plant matter (though they may occasionally supplement their diets with tiny insects as well).  They perch on dried seed heads and can often be seen clinging to a stem and hanging upside down to pick at the seeds.  Favorite food plants include members of the aster family, like sunflowers and thistles, and are generally found in open areas containing an assemblage of these plants.  They readily visit backyard feeders stocked with black oil sunflower seeds and nyjer (thistle) seed and are a familiar face in the suburbs.  I've seen quite a few flocks of Lesser Goldfinches feeding on the seeds of ornamental Crape Myrtles and Liquidambar trees during the winter.  Be sure to keep an eye out for these little finches during neighborhood walks and other wilderness explorations this winter!