Lesser Goldfinch, Carduelis psaltria
The Lesser
goldfinch can be distinguished from the American Goldfinch
by the lack of white at the base of its tail. When the two species are
side by side, they are quite easy to tell apart. The American Goldfinch
is much brighter than the Lesser Goldfinch. Eastern males have black
backs where as the western males have greenish backs. The females are
much duller.
These birds are very
gregarious and often seen in mixed flocks with Lawrence's Goldfinches.
Reproduction of the Lesser Goldfinch
The Lesser Goldfinch does not mind nesting in deciduous trees. They also nest in shrubs. They like to build their nests at the end of branches.
Niche filled by the Lesser Goldfinch
Like most finches the Lesser Goldfinch does not feed entirely on seeds. They also eat an occasional arthropods.
Habitat/Plant community of the Lesser Goldfinch
How to attract Lesser Goldfinch to your garden
The Lesser Goldfinch can be attracted to your garden by a birdbath. They also like seeds. See diet.
Diet of the Lesser
Goldfinch
The Lesser Goldfinch feeds mainly on seeds but they can also be found feeding on fruits, buds and insects. They do not use trees as much as the Lawrence's and American goldfinches. However, they will eat buds, flowers, and acorns from Oak trees. They also eat the fruits from Willow, Salix spp., Alder, Alnus spp, and Birch, Betula spp. The Lesser Goldfinch can often be seen in the chaparral eating Chamise and Woolly Blue-curls seeds. They also like to feed on Asteraceae. Some other plants used are Miner's lettuce, Red Maids, Fiddle neck, Amsinckia spp. and Dove weed, Eremocarpus setigerus, Night Shades, Solanum spp, Sage Salvia spp, Catch-fly, Silene spp. Tar weed Hemizonia spp.,
A large portion of the diet consists of weeds including Bromus spp., Centuria spp., and Erodium spp. The Insects eaten include aphids and caterpillars. These are eaten in the summer.
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