Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria (Say, 1822)

Lesser Goldfinch, Spinus psaltria, breeds from western USA through Middle America into South America, reaching Peru. It is a finch of the family Fringillidae and was described by Say in 1822. The male is marked by a black forehead, which the female does not show. Across its range, males differ in back colour, with green birds in the west of North America and black-backed birds farther east and south. It is the smallest North American Spinus finch, and its plumage varies enough that five subspecies have been recognised.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Fringillidae — Finches, Euphonias

Breeding range

North America, Middle America, South America: w USA to Peru