Lesser Goldfinch

Editors Note:
This is a shell account and still needs to be completed, but is a species we plan to cover.

Appearance —

Natural History

Inhabits a wide variety of habitats of the western United States from Oregon east into Colorado and Texas, and south to Mexico. Seeds, flowers, buds, fruits, and infrequently insects such as plant lice.

Taxonomy —

Object of study

Mimicry in song.

Flight Call

Lower-pitched and more harsh (much less harsh than siskin though) than contact calls of Lawrence’s, and lacking the descending character of American Goldfinch calls; each species gives dis-tinctive, stereotyped, 1- to 5-note calls with little individual variation. Common call is a tee-ee, which is more whistled than the throaty tee-u of Pine Siskin.

Irruptions

Not known to be irruptive, but more investigation might prove otherwise.Its range has been advancing northward and eastward the last few decades though. The Lesser Goldfinch will visit nyjer or sunflower seed feeders of all shapes and forms including nyjer seed socks.