Lesser Goldfinch

About the Lesser Goldfinch

The Lesser Goldfinch is the smallest finch in North America, barely four inches long. Males in Texas have glossy black backs and caps over bright yellow underparts; females are olive above and dull yellow below. The stubby, conical bill is built for seeds.

These are social finches, moving in twittering flocks through open woods, brushy slopes, and gardens. They cling to seed heads - sunflower, thistle, and ragweed are favorites - and the male sings a long, jumbled song that often weaves in imitations of other birds. Nesting runs late in the season, timed to the seed crop.

The Lesser Goldfinch is a year-round resident across the western two-thirds of Texas and is common in the Hill Country, where it is a regular at feeders and birdbaths.