Class Aves
Order Songbirds
Family Finches
Genus Carduelis

Credit: John 'K'

North American field guide

Lesser Goldfinch

Carduelis psaltria

Also known as:Dark-backed Goldfinch

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

11 cm (4-5") Common. Western United States. Dry bushy fields, gardens, open woods, streams.

Very small finch.

Male: black cap. Either a black or green back (two races exist). Black wings have white on them. Bright yellow underparts including undertail coverts. Male American Goldfinch has white undertail coverts.

Female or Immature: resembles female American Goldfinch but smaller, more greenish with a dark non-contrasting rump and yellow undertail coverts. Female American Goldfinch has a pale contrasting rump and white undertail coverts.

In flight; undulating flight.

Song: sweet rising and falling notes suggest American Goldfinch; descending "tee-yee" call.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: barloventomagico

Credit: Wayne Dumbleton

Credit: Images by John 'K'

Credit: J.N. Stuart

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

California Wildlife ---- Lesser Goldfinch

Credit: American Wildlife

Goldfinch splash party!

Credit: luanne hedblom

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 6 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Lesser Goldfinch (Male)

4 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1053-lesser-goldfinch-male:1:1 Source: 1053 Lesser Goldfinch (Male), row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1053-lesser-goldfinch-male:2:1 Source: 1053 Lesser Goldfinch (Male), row 2

Rule 3 12 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:1053-lesser-goldfinch-male:3:1 Source: 1053 Lesser Goldfinch (Male), row 3

Rule 4 13 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:1053-lesser-goldfinch-male:4:1 Source: 1053 Lesser Goldfinch (Male), row 4

Lesser Goldfinch (Female or Immature)

2 rules

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What Color were the UNDERTAIL COVERTS ?: Yellow, olive, or tan (light brown) · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1054-lesser-goldfinch-female-or-immature:1:1 Source: 1054 Lesser Goldfinch (Female or Immature), row 1

Rule 2 16 criteria confidence 1

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What Color were the UNDERTAIL COVERTS ?: Yellow, olive, or tan (light brown) · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:1054-lesser-goldfinch-female-or-immature:2:1 Source: 1054 Lesser Goldfinch (Female or Immature), row 2