Finches
Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
A small western finch that takes nyjer and sunflower. It is often less wary than larger finches and will use a small-port feeder for long stretches.
- Food to offer
- Nyjer
- Sunflower
- Feeder that suits it
- Dedicated nyjer feeder
- Size
- Small
- When to expect it
- Year-round (western and southwestern North America)
- Region
- West
Photos of Lesser Goldfinch
3 imagesFeeding Lesser Goldfinch at a glance
For someone putting out food for the first time.
What to put out
- Nyjer
- Black-oil sunflower
- Hulled sunflower
Best feeder and placement
Dedicated nyjer feeder or small tube.
How it behaves at the feeder
A calm, persistent feeder that will sit at a small-port feeder for long stretches.
How to recognise it
Males have a black cap and bright yellow underparts with an olive-green back. Females are duller olive with paler underparts.
Often confused with
American Goldfinch — American Goldfinch has a black cap only in breeding plumage and a brighter yellow body; Lesser has an olive back.
One thing to watch
A western and southwestern bird. A goldfinch with an olive back is likely this species.
How it differs from an American Goldfinch
The two overlap in the west, so it is worth separating them. Male Lesser Goldfinches have a black cap that covers the whole crown and an olive-green back, with bright yellow underparts. Male American Goldfinches are brighter yellow overall with a black cap only in breeding plumage and a yellow-brown back.
Females are harder. Both are dull olive-yellow, and the safest approach is to look at the back colour and let range narrow it down.
A patient, small-port feeder
Lesser Goldfinches are calm, persistent feeders and will sit at a small-port nyjer feeder for long stretches. That makes them easy to watch and easy to overlook if larger finches are crowding the same feeder.
Nyjer is the specialist food, but black-oil and hulled sunflower are also taken. As with other finches, nyjer should be fed on its own rather than blended into a mix, because standard ports spill it.
Common questions
Is it just a small American Goldfinch?
No, it is a separate species. Males have an olive-green back and a black cap covering the crown; American Goldfinch males are brighter yellow with a different back colour.
Where will I see one?
Western and southwestern North America. It is not an eastern bird, so range is the first filter.
Do they use sunflower?
Yes, along with nyjer. Nyjer is the specialist offering, not the only one.