NOTE: There are three goldfinch species found in North America.
In the eastern half of the United States and in Canada, the only goldfinch
species you will find is the American Goldfinch. In much of the western US, a
birder may run across either American Goldfinch or Lesser Goldfinch, while parts
of the southwestern United States, a birder may also find Lawrence's Goldfinch.
Plumage and other differences make differentiating between male goldfinches
relatively straightforward, particularly breeding males. Females are more
difficult, as they lack some of the key identifying features. The following
provides some of the key identification features for the three goldfinch
species.
Note while Lesser Goldfinch Lawrence's Goldfinch generally
maintain similar plumage throughout the year, the American Goldfinch becomes
much less "bright" outside of the breeding season. Male American Goldfinches
lose their bright yellow coloring and are primarily a drab grayish color (with
some yellowish highlights), while maintaining the black wings. Even female
American Goldfinches are "brighter" during the breeding season, with a
yellowish-tinged plumage that is replaced with gray tones in the winter. |
|
MALE GOLDFINCHES (breeding plumage) |
|
American Goldfinch |
|
Lesser Goldfinch |
|
Spinus tristus |
|
Spinus psaltria |
|
|
|
|
Height: 5 inches |
|
Height: 4.5 inches |
|
Wingspan: 9 inches |
Wingspan: 8 inches |
|
Body: Bright yellow plumage on most of the body, including
back, face, and back of the head. |
Body: Yellow plumage on underparts may be similar to a American
Goldfinch, but the back is either a olive color (as in the bird above), or
black. Birds in the far western part of their range tend towards the
olive-backed plumage, with interior birds often black-backed. |
|
Head: Yellow with black cap |
Head: yellow throat, olive/black back of head, black cap |
|
Wings: Black with white wing bars |
Wings: Black with white wing-bars |
|
Bill: Colorful orange bill |
Bill: Grayish / drab bill |
|
Rump / Undertail: White undertail and rump patch (rump patch
visible in flight) |
Rump / Undertail: Yellowish undertail (breeding plumage) |
|
South Dakota Status: Common summer resident and migrant in all
parts of the state. They are also relatively common winter residents in the
southern part of the state, with decreasing numbers of birds as you move
northward. |
South Dakota Status: Rare and local in summer in the far
southwestern part of the state, particularly parts of Fall River County.
Breeding has now been confirmed in the area, extending the known breeding range
of Lesser Goldfinch well to the north of most reference range maps. |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Lawrence's Goldfinch |
|
|
Spinus lawrencei |
|
|
|
|
Height: 4.75 inches |
|
|
Wingspan: 8.25 inches |
|
|
Body: Grayish body and back, with yellow breast |
|
|
Head: Black throat, face, and forehead |
|
|
Wings: Dark with yellow wing bars, yellow edges on primary
feathers |
|
|
Bill: Gray / Drab |
|
|
South Dakota Status: Not a species found in South Dakota. |
|
 |
|
|
FEMALE GOLDFINCHES |
|
American Goldfinch |
|
Lesser Goldfinch |
|
Spinus tristus |
|
Spinus psaltria |
|
|
|
NOTES: Female American Goldfinches have similar plumage
patterns as the males, except they are 1) drabber, and 2) lack the black cap.
In summer breeding plumage, as with the bird above, female American Goldfinches
are yellow overall, but paler than the male, with an olive-wash on the back
that's lacking in the male.
For differentiating from the Lesser
Goldfinch, note the 1) orange bill and 2) white undertail coverts (yellow on
Lesser). Note the female American Goldfinch has a grayish-toned bill in winter
plumage, as does the Lesser Goldfinch, but the female American Goldfinch loses
nearly all yellow tones from its plumage in winter, while the Lesser Goldfinch
maintains a more stable yellow tone. |
|
NOTES: Female Lesser Goldfinch lack the black cap of the male
and are somewhat more drab overall. They maintain the yellowish underparts and
olive-tinted upperparts of the male.
For differentiating from the
American Goldfinch, note the 1) gray / drab bill and 2) yellowish
undertail coverts (white on American). |
|
|
|
|
Lawrence's Goldfinch |
|
|
Spinus lawrencei |
|
|
|
NOTES: Female Lawrence's Goldfinch are similar to the male, but
lack the black face and cap, and the yellow wash on the breast is typically
paler and less pronounced.
The overall gray tone, yellow on the breast,
and yellow on the wings differentiate the female Lawrence's Goldfinch from
American and Lesser.
*Photo courtesy of
Alan Schmierer |
|
