OTHER NAMES: Dark-backed Goldfinch, Arkansas Goldfinch
Latin Etymology: Spinus (bird mentioned by Aristophanes) psaltria ("singer")
Adult male Lesser Goldfinch (subspecies S. p. hesperophilus) at Berkeley, California - Septmeber 2022
Featured Subspecies: Spinus psaltria hesperophilus
Weight: 8-11.5g / Length: 9-12cm / Wingspan: 20cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern
The three species of American Goldfinch aren't actually closesly related to the Eurasian Goldfinch, actually being more closely related to the siskins. It is one of the smallest true finches in the world, only rivalled by it's close relation the Andean Siskin. They travel in flocks, the largest of which we encountered was probably around 50 birds.
Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Spinus
SUBSPECIES: S. p. hesperophilus, S. p. witti, S. p. psaltria, S. p. jouyi, S. p. colombianus
- Sighting Locations -
Resident on West Coast and the Mexican border, Breeding inland in South-West
- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley and San Francisco
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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