Home › Black-chinned siskin › Lesser goldfinch - Spinus psaltria
The lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) belongs to the family of goldfinch and siskin, the Fringillidae.The lesser goldfinch species are distributed in Southwestern North America, Central America and Northwestern South America. The goldfinch species is partially migratory. This goldfinch species is polytypic.
| Key Facts | Description |
| Pictures of Lesser Goldfinch | Distribution |
| Ecosystem & Habitat | Conservation |
Lesser goldfinch - Description and identification
The lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) is a small finch, measuring 9 to 12 cm in length and weighing 8 to 12 grams.The males of lesser goldfinch have bright yellow underparts and some white patches on the wings. The upperparts are bluish black. The throat and the sides of the neck are bright yellow. There is variation in coloration in the subspecies.
The bill is stout and grayish yellow. The legs and feet are grayish. The irises are dark. The eye ring is gray. The call is a harsh loud "chig.. chig.. chig" sound or a very high-pitched, drawn-out whistling sound.
 |
| 1.Lesser goldfinch - Spinus psaltria Image by Alejandro Bayer Tamayo |
 |
| 2.Lesser goldfinch - Spinus psaltria Image by Alejandro Bayer Tamayo |
 |
| 3.Lesser goldfinch - Spinus psaltria Image by Alejandro Bayer Tamayo |
 |
| 4.Lesser goldfinch - Spinus psaltria Image by Alejandro Bayer Tamayo |
Lesser goldfinch - Geographical range and distribution
These species are distributed in southwest North America, Central America and northwest South America.In North America, the lesser goldfinch species are distributed in southwest Canada, western and southern USA, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
In northwestern South America, these species are distributed in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela.
The lesser goldfinch nominate subspecies S. p. psaltria is distributed in west central USA to southern Mexico. The subspecies S. p. jouyi is distributed in southeast Mexico and north Belize. The subspecies S. p. witti occurs in Mary Islands (Mexico).
The subspecies S. p. hesperophilus is distributed in western coastal USA and western Mexico. The subspecies S. p. colombianus is distributed in south Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru.
Ecosystem and habitat
These goldfinch species do not normally occur in forests. They normally occur in altitudes between 0 to 3100 meters. The artificial ecosystems include plantations, rural gardens and urban areas.The natural ecosystems and habitats of the goldfinch species include tropical and subtropical dry shrublands, high altitude shrublands and montane subtropical and temperate woodlands.
Diet and feeding behavior
The diet of the lesser goldfinch species consists mainly of seeds and fruits. Small larval and adult insects, small beetles and plant matter are their primary food. They are usually seen in flocks, feeding on the ground.Reproduction and breeding habits
The breeding season of these goldfinch species is during summer in the temperate parts of their breeding range. In tropical regions, there is year round breeding.The breeding ecosystem includes trees, bushes and shrubs. The nest is a cup made with grasses, rootlets, lichens and plant fibers. The clutch comprises three or four bluish white eggs.
Migration and movement patterns
The lesser goldfinch species are partially migratory as well as resident birds.The populations in higher altitudes may descend to lower levels during winter. Breeding populations in central North America may move towards coastal regions during winter.
Post breeding, the juveniles may disperse and establish in new locations within the range. Within their range they may make local movements for feeding and breeding.
Lesser goldfinch - Quick Facts
- Scientific name: Spinus psaltria
- Species author: (Say, 1822)
- Synonyms/Protonym: Fringilla psaltria Say, 1822
- Family: Fringillidae › Passeriformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
- Vernacular names: English: Lesser goldfinch, Chinese: 暗背金翅雀, French: Chardonneret mineur, German: Mexikozeisig, Spanish: Jilguero menor, Russian: Малый чиж, Japanese: ヒメキンヒワ
- Other names: Lesser Goldfinch, Arkansas Goldfinch, Dark-backed Goldfinch
- Distribution: Southwest North America, Central America, Northwest South America
- Diet and feeding habits: seeds, fruits, insects
- IUCN status listing: Least Concern (LC)
Lesser goldfinch - Conservation and survival
The global population size of the lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) has not been quantified. The overall population trend of the species is considered to be declining.In most of its range, this goldfinch species is reported to be common to uncommon. The generation length is 4.5 years. Its distribution size is about 13,700,000 sq.km.
Ecosystem degradation, ecosystem conversion and capture of adults and juveniles for pet-trade are the main threats that may endanger the survival of the species.
IUCN and CITES status
The lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) species does not approach the thresholds for being Vulnerable either under the range size criterion or under the population trend criterion or under the population size criterion.The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated the species and has listed it as of "Least Concern (LC)".
The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) status is ‘Not Evaluated’ for the lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria).
| Taxonomy and scientific classification of Spinus psaltria | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Spinus |
| Species: | S. psaltria |
| Binomial name: | Spinus psaltria |
| IUCN status listing: |
 Least Concern |
Spinus psaltria psaltria (Say, 1822),
Spinus psaltria colombianus (Lafresnaye, 1843),
Spinus psaltria jouyi (Ridgway, 1898),
Spinus psaltria witti P. R. Grant, 1964 and
Spinus psaltria hesperophilus (Oberholser, 1903).
1.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alejobayer/45130118224/ (cropped)
Image author: Alejandro Bayer Tamayo | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 1/16/19
2.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alejobayer/45130117824/ (cropped)
Image author: Alejandro Bayer Tamayo | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 1/16/19
3.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alejobayer/45130118214/ (cropped)
Image author: Alejandro Bayer Tamayo | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 1/16/19
4.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alejobayer/30915615607/ (cropped)
Image author: Alejandro Bayer Tamayo | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 1/16/19
Link to Creative Commons copyright licenses
Updated Jan 16, 2019
Recently updated and current topic in Bird World: Lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria).
