Lesser Goldfinch

Common throughout the county except in the most densely forested areas in the extreme northwest and right along the coast. Likes open, brushy areas and lightly wooded edge environments, but common in suburbia. Often visits feeders, becoming more numerous in winter. Easily the single most common bird at my own feeders year round. Often in small groups. May associate with American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) in the winter, sometimes forming large flocks.

Recognized by its black cap; heavy finch's bill; green-tinged yellow belly, breast, and throat; dark, greenish back; black wings with a distinct stripe of white at the base of the primaries showing at rest. The white at the base of the primaries is conspicuous in flight as a flash of white in the middle of each wing. Undulating flight habit like that of American Goldfinch. Sonoma County birds are of the Western subspecies (Spinus psaltria hesperophilus), which are greener than their counterparts further east, into the southern Rockies, and Texas (Spinus psaltria psaltria), which have a nearly black back. Females and juveniles lack the black cap, but immature males will have some black at the brow. Our birds never seem as bright yellow on their yellow parts as they are sometimes depicted in field guides, usually having a noticeable olive cast.

Likely to be confused only with American Goldfinch: Lawrence's Goldfinch is rare in Sonoma County. Adult Lesser Goldfinch males in summer (breeding plumage) are distinguished from American Goldfinch by their green back (American Goldfinch has a clear yellow nape and back, throat, breast, and belly with a starkly contrasting black cap and black wings with two white wing bars). In winter, Lesser Goldfinch looks much the same as in the summer, whereas American Goldfinch loses its bright yellow color (becoming a brownish putty color) and also loses its black cap in winter plumage. Note that American Goldfinch goes through a rather more complete molt each year than many birds. It is common to see American Goldfinch in various intermediate states between winter and breeding plumage, some of which can be confusing (see photo below). Lesser Goldfinch, however, will always have a greenish back in Sonoma County. Note also that American Goldfinch has a paler, slightly yellowish bill, while that of Lesser Goldfinch is dark, and that American Goldfinch has white under the tail in virtually all plumages, a feature Lesser Goldfinch lacks.

Varied vocal repertoire. Common is a soft, echoing huh chuh-chuh-chuh or huh chuh-chuh-chuh-chuh-chuh (often, but not always uttered, when disturbed and fleeing, although the sound itself doesn't especially suggest alarm) or by sporadic, plaintive notes such as tyeee? with a rising intonation, often followed by an "answering," falling tyeer.

Older books assign Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch, Lawrence's Goldfinch (Spinus Lawrencei), and Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) all to the genus Carduelis. Looking at the most recent field guides I own, the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America (4th ed., 2010), assigns Lawrence's Goldfinch to Carduelis, the other three birds to Spinus. The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America (6th ed., 2011), assigns all four species to Spinus.