Lesser Goldfinch - Sonoma County’s Smallest!
April 7, 2007 on 4:21 pm | In Daily Local Birder |
Greetings Readers!
I have a birding confession to make. I have not been observant enough of the goldfinches this year. I don’t know when it was that I stopped seeing the American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis, and started seeing the Lesser Goldfinch, Carduelis psaltria, in its place. I know it has been some months since I last saw an American Goldfinch in Glen Ellen, California, and that for many months, my feeder has played host to a flock of Lesser Goldfinches. I know that both birds are supposed to be year-round Bay Area residents. What I don’t know is if the two groups inhabit different areas of our region at different times of year, but it almost seems that way, as I can’t recall seeing both of them at once, ever. So, my confession is that I have been guilty of a lack of keen birding observation and I hope I’ll do better in 2007, because I love these birds and want to learn more about them.
Apart from the 2 local goldfinches I’ve mentioned, you could potentially see a Lawrence’s Goldfinch one day in the summertime, but it is the American and the Lesser that I want to focus on in this post.
What’s the difference?
The Lesser Goldfinch is the smallest North American goldfinch - only 3 1/2″ - 4 1/2″ from beak to tail. The American Goldfinch averages about 5″. The females of the two species can be difficult to distinguish, but you can easily learn to tell the males apart by noting the fieldmarks of beak, back and cap. Please, take a look at my comparitive illustration of the male American and Lesser Goldfinches:
As you can see from the above illustration, one of the most distinctive differences is how these two fellows wear their black caps. The American Goldfinch tips his at an angle toward the front of the head, but the Lesser Goldfinch pulls his halfway down over his eyes. This leads to a very different appearance, with the eye of the American being all in brightness, and the upper half of the eye of the Lesser seeming to be ‘missing’.
The orange beak of the American Goldfinch is very colorful compared to his companion’s grey one. You might need your birding binoculars to zone in on this if you aren’t close to the birds.
Lastly, the back of the Lesser is olive-tan in hue, but the American Goldfinch’s incredible yellow is worn both above and below. On the whole, the American Goldfinch has a brighter, simpler appearance to me, and the tiny Lesser Goldfinch’s yellow belly appears very pronounced in contrast to his dark backside.
With these 3 fieldmarks, you can tell the males apart quite easily. To learn more about the American Goldfinch, read my complete post on this wonderful wild bird.
Further fieldnotes on the Lesser Goldfinch
No bird that I know of has a sweeter song. The high, musical squeaks and whistles of the Lesser Goldfinch have been warbling through the air around my house for months and they go straight to my heart with their tiny, liquid, sweet-as-sugar sound. I have been interested to read in my Sibley guide that this bird apparently imitates the calls of other species. I have not observed this myself, but hope to, one day.
They appear to enjoy the sunflower seeds I offer, but also feed on dandelion seeds and they bring home soft, unripe seeds to their babies. They make a twiggy nest, low in a bush or tree and lay 4-5 light blue egges. Look for these birds in oak forests and in your own backyard.
In my own neighborhood, a flock of these little birds seems to greatly enjoy a smoke tree down the street, and they look incredibly picturesque in their golden plumes, seated amidst the frothy pink blossoms. And, all the while I was creating the above illustration, their lilting, wistful calls came to me through the open window. I hope I’ve done a good job honoring them with my sketch, and I feel so thankful that they are with us right now, giving of their beauty so freely.
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Hello! I just posted about seeing the American goldfinch in our garden, but I wanted to mention that it was this little fellow and his mate that came to our feeders first. As I mentioned in the other post, we have a long wire tube feeder that is filled with thistle and they seem to really enjoy these. I am filling it about once a week as they, and the American gf seem to be heartily devouring these seeds. I am not sure what tree they have taken as their home, but I am fortunate enough to see them several times a day.
Thank you again for your beautiful paintings, and wonderful posts!
Candy
Comment by Bosco1 — June 18, 2007 #
Hi Candy,
Oh, they must just be loving those little thistles! I read both your posts but am responding to this one because you bring up an interesting point about first the Lesser Goldfinches coming and then the American Goldfinches showing up.
I have been trying to understand why I never seem to get mixed flocks of them here in the east part of the county. Are you having both the Lesser and the American at the same time, or first the one and then the other? It’s something I’m very interested in.
Here in the Valley of the Moon area, I have been seeing only Lesser Goldfinches for months, but a week or so ago, we were in Marin county and there were huge flocks of American Goldfinches eating the seeds from the marsh plants on Tomales Bay…quite a sight!
I hope you can let me know what happened at your feeder, and I’m so glad you are getting to enjoy these darling birds. They are absolutely beautiful!
Glad my posts helped!
Miriam
Comment by info — June 18, 2007 #
Hi Miriam,
I am getting both of the finches at the feeder now, but for a week or two there were only the Lesser Goldfinches coming to the feeder. Then out of nowhere, I’d say two weeks or so now, the American Goldfinches showed up and are now regulars. They don’t seem to be with a flock, as it is only two or three that come at a time. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I may be as lucky as you and have a flock at our feeders (we have two other feeders that are open dishes that have millet and sunflower seed).
Thanks again!
Candy
Comment by Bosco1 — June 18, 2007 #
Thanks for the detail on that, Candy. Your birding environment sounds wonderful! It’s amazing what putting out a few seeds can do. Suddenly, your yard is bird heaven!
I’m so glad you’re getting to enjoy the finches.
Miriam
Comment by info — June 18, 2007 #
Hello, I am brand new to birding having just bought a house in Windsor, CA. I am lucky to have my house back up to open space so I added a thistle and a sunflower chip tube feeders. I have to refill the feeders EVERY day. I have so many Oak Titmice, Lessers, Americans, and house finches. I also have a suet feeder which brings in Acorn woodpeckers everyday. I had no idea I would be so taken with bird watching. I just love it.
Comment by Jack — July 11, 2007 #
Hello There New Birder!
I loved reading your post. It is astonishing what a few feeders can bring into your yard. Add a dish of water in a ’safe-feeling’ place and you can also have the fun of watching ground birds like California and Spotted Towhees, Scrub Jays, California Quail and thrushes taking their daily bath and drink. *If you are new to Sonoma County, do replace standing water on a daily basis or you get not so nice visitors…mosquitoes!
It sounds like your house is becoming the place in your neighborhood for birds to hang out. Please, keep us posted on what you are seeing. If you’ve got active woodpeckers right now, winter should be awesome in your area, when the Nuttall’s, Downy, and Acorn Woodpeckers are really active.
I’m really delighted to hear the enthusiasm in your post. Happy Birding!
Comment by info — July 11, 2007 #
Hello, I forgot to say that I have added a bird bath too! I am not new to Sonoma County but thanks for the reminder. The Hummingbird feeder is awsome too. I want to add a solar bird bath/fountain. Can I post photos here?
Comment by Jack — July 11, 2007 #
Hi Northern Californians:
I’m really not a birder, and not a Sonoman (darn it!) but I wandered onto your site in my efforts to understand a little yellow green grey marauder who loves to pick sunflower leaves apart, eating the green parts and leaving the veins behind. It’s June, and these plants have no buds, just leaves, and this little devil is doing his best to defoliate the plant, starting from the bottom up. He’s no fool. Thanks to Whatbird.com and ZBirdNerd, I think I now know that he’s a Lesser Goldfinch, and he loves my sunflower’s leaves. He doesn’t seem to pick any other flower in my urban garden. Hope I’m not intruding, but I think we’re talking about the same bird.
Comment by tinkll1 — June 26, 2008 #
Hi There,
All are welcome here.
Yes, it could well be the Lesser Goldfinch who has taken a fancy to your sunflowers. I once saw a little family of White Crowned Sparrows eat some freshly-planted delphiniums right down to the ground. They ate every last leaf.
What to do about this? You could get some bamboo stakes and make little netting enclosures around the young plants until they are tall enough not to be killed by a few bites in the leaves.
Chicken wire won’t work for a bird as small as a goldfinch. They’ll go right through it. But a fine netting would likely work.
I hope this helps, and your comment is much appreciated!
Comment by info — June 27, 2008 #
We have regular visits by a small flock of lesser goldfinches and a larger flock of house finches. The latter are very aggressive at the feeder and often drive the goldfinches away from the thistle seed. Any ideas on how to give the goldfinches a competitive edge?
Comment by fwes — July 30, 2008 #
Hi FWES,
Yes, I’ve seen just what you’re talking about many times between the 2 kinds of finches and because the Housefinches are larger and a little bolder, they do tend to get the upper hand.
My best advice would be to try hanging more feeders with multiple perches on them if you can. That way, the Goldfinches can often dart in and out and get seed because the House Finches can’t occupy all of the perches at the same time.
Still, it does remain a bit of a struggle between the birds - but that’s just Nature’s way!
Good luck and enjoy that pretty gold and red display you’re having.
Comment by info — July 30, 2008 #
Thanks for the quick response.
While rummaging the Web, I came across another suggestion: Upside down feeders http://shawcreekfarms2.stores.yahoo.net/coupgofe.html
The idea is that the more acrobatic goldfinches can feed upside down and that the heavier house finches can’t do this trick. Haven’t tried it yet, but I have confidence in the concept since we have a broken peg on one of our thistle feeders, leaving only upside down access to one slot. Darned if the goldfinches don’t take advantage of that opportunity! I wasn’t creative enough to think of building a whole feeder with that “attribute”.
Comment by fwes — July 31, 2008 #