breeding male; bright yellow and black (California, USA; 2007-01-27)


Lesser Goldfinch
Genus species

Native Range: North America and Latin America

Notes: a smaller and less colorful cousin of American Goldfinch; almost always in flocks, foraging on tree buds and seed heads; bouncy flight; white square at base of primaries.

note white square at base of primaries (California, USA; 2007-01-27)
nonbreeding male, just starting black crown (California, USA; 2009-03-15)

adult female; less colorful than male (California, USA; 2007-01-27)
sharp but conical bill (California, USA; 2006-07-30)

sipping water with flock (California, USA; 2007-02-18)


nonbreeding male (California, USA; 2009-03-15)

posing for portrait (California, USA; 2007-04-28)
male also comes in a distinctive black-backed morph (Panama; 2008-06-10)