Birds of Texas

Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)

© 2006 - Walter Bauer, San Antonio, Texas

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Field Marks: A very small finch with black upper parts and bright yellow under parts; bold white marks on the wings.

Female: Very similar to female or winter male of American Goldfinch, but smaller and lacks white near rump.  The back is more greenish.  Immature male:  Dark greenish back, black cap, blackish rump.
Voice: Canary-like. Sounds like tee-yer (dropping).  Song is Canary like, more phrased and less sustained than the American Goldfinch.
Range: From West U.S. south to Peru. 

TEXAS: Resident in western half of the state and east to Coleman, Austin, Beeville.  Winters east to Forth Worth, Beeville, Brownsville and casually on central coast.
Habitat: Semi-open or Brushy country.  These are coming to our thistle feeder in San Antonio, Texas.