Lesser goldfinch

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Lesser goldfinch
Carduelis psaltria.jpg
Male
Carduelis psaltria female.jpg
Female
both S. p. hesperophilus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Subfamily: Carduelinae
Genus: Spinus
Species:
S. psaltria
Binomial name
Spinus psaltria
(Say, 1822)
Subspecies

see text

Spinus psaltria map.svg
Synonyms

Fringilla psaltria (protonym)
Carduelis psaltria
Astragalinus psaltria

Contents

The lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) is a small finch in the genus Spinus native to the Americas.

As is the case for most species in the genus Spinus, lesser goldfinch males have a black forehead, which females lack. Males in this species vary strikingly in the color of their back across their range, from green in western North America to black in the eastern Rocky Mountains and Texas south to northern South America; this variation has resulted in five subspecies being recognized.

Taxonomy

Together with its relatives the American goldfinch and Lawrence's goldfinch, it forms a clade, termed the 'New World goldfinch' clade, in the genus Spinus. Some authors have suggested treating this clade as a separate genus Astragalinus, [2] but this has not been followed by either the IOC or BirdLife International. [3] [1]

The lesser goldfinch was formally described by the American zoologist Thomas Say in 1822 under the binomial name Fringilla psaltria. [4] The specific epithet psaltria is Ancient Greek for a female harpist. [5] The type locality is Colorado Springs, Colorado. [6] The lesser goldfinch is now placed in the genus Spinus that was introduced in 1816 by the German naturalist Carl Ludwig Koch. [7] [3]

Five subspecies are currently recognised, [3] though their validity has been questioned: [8]

Description

This species is not only the smallest North American Spinus finch, it may be the smallest true finch in the world. [9] [10] Some sources list more subtropical Spinus species as slightly smaller on average, including the Andean siskin (Spinus spinescens). [11] This species ranges from 9 to 12 cm (3.5 to 4.7 in) in length and can weigh from 8 to 11.5 g (0.28 to 0.41 oz). [11] [12] [13] Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 5.5 to 7 cm (2.2 to 2.8 in), the tail is 3.9 to 4.7 cm (1.5 to 1.9 in), the bill is 0.9 to 1.1 cm (0.35 to 0.43 in) and the tarsus is 1.1 to 1.2 cm (0.43 to 0.47 in). [11] There is a slight northwest-southeast cline in size, with the largest birds from Mexico and further south being up to one-fifth larger than the smallest from the extreme northwest of its range; this effect is more pronounced in females. There is also considerable variation in the amount of black on the head and back in males and thus five subspecies have been proposed. But this variation, too, seems to be simple and clinal changes in allele frequency and thus the "subspecies" might be better considered color morphs or geographic forms. [8]

Males are easily recognized by their bright yellow underparts and big white patches in the tail (outer rectrices) and on the wings (the base of the primaries). They range from having solid black from the back to the upper head including the ear-coverts to having these regions medium green; each of the back, crown and ear regions varies in darkness rather independently though; as a rule, the ears are not darker than the rest. In most of the range, dark birds termed psaltria (the black-backed goldfinch) predominate. The light birds are termed hesperophilus (the green-backed goldfinch) and are most common in the far western U.S. and northwestern Mexico. [8]

The zone in which both light and dark males occur on a regular basis is broadest in the north and extends across the width of the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Madre Occidental ranges. It reaches the Pacific Coast in southern Sonora to northern Sinaloa, roughly between the area of Ciudad Obregón to Culiacán. In the United States, the most diverse array of phenotypes can be found in Colorado and New Mexico. East of the 106th meridian west in southwestern Texas, as well as in most of Mexico, almost all males have black backs. S. p. colombianus, found east and south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, is a richer yellow below in males. This subspecies, as well as the even yellower S. p. jouyi from the Yucatán Peninsula and adjacent regions of Mexico and S. p. witti from the Tres Marías Islands off Nayarit [14] require more study, especially since at least the former two also seem to be significantly larger and longer-billed. [8]

Females' and immatures' upperparts are more or less grayish olive-green; their underparts are yellowish, buffier in immatures. They have only a narrow strip of white on the wings (with other white markings in some forms) and little or no white on the tail. They are best distinguished from other members of the genus by the combination of small size, upperparts without white or yellow, and dark gray bill. In all plumages, this bird can easily be taken for a New World warbler if the typical finch bill is not seen well.

Like other goldfinches, it has an undulating flight in which it frequently gives a call: in this case, a harsh chig chig chig. [15] Another distinctive call is a very high-pitched, drawn-out whistle, often rising from one level pitch to another (teeeyeee) or falling (teeeyooo). The song is a prolonged warble or twitter, more phrased than that of the American goldfinch, [16] often incorporating imitations of other species.

Distribution and habitat

This American goldfinch ranges from the southwestern United States (near the coast, as far north as extreme southwestern Washington) to Venezuela and Peru. It migrates from the colder parts of its U.S. range.

The lesser goldfinch often occurs in flocks or at least loose associations. It utilizes almost any habitat with trees or shrubs except for dense forest, and is common and conspicuous in many areas, often coming near houses. It is common at feeders in the Southwest United States and will come almost anywhere with thistle sock feeders. Flocks of at least six birds will often be seen at feeders. It feeds mostly on tree buds and weed seeds; geophagy has been observed in this species. [17]

The nesting season is in summer in the temperate parts of its range; in the tropics it apparently breeds all-year round, perhaps less often in September and October. [18] It lays three or four bluish white eggs in a cup nest made of fine plant materials such as lichens, rootlets, and strips of bark, placed in a bush or at low or middle levels in a tree.

The molt occurs in two different patterns which coincide with the blackness of the upperparts quite well. Here too is a broad zone of intergradation. Pacific birds molt after breeding, and females shed a few body feathers before breeding too. Juvenile males shed more remiges than females when molting into adult plumage. East of the 106th meridian west, birds molt strongly before breeding and replace another quantity of feathers afterwards, and post-juvenile molt does not differ significantly between the sexes. However, this seems dependent on the differing rainfall regimes; simply put, birds at least anywhere in the North American range molt most of their plumage at the end of the dry season and may replace more feathers at the end of the wet season. [8]

Considered a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN due to its vast range, it nonetheless seems to be declining locally. For example, it is rare in the Ecuadorean Andes foothills. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finch</span> Family of birds

The true finches are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. Finches generally have stout conical bills adapted for eating seeds and nuts and often have colourful plumage. They occupy a great range of habitats where they are usually resident and do not migrate. They have a worldwide native distribution except for Australia and the polar regions. The family Fringillidae contains more than two hundred species divided into fifty genera. It includes the canaries, siskins, redpolls, serins, grosbeaks and euphonias, as well as the morphologically divergent Hawaiian honeycreepers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American goldfinch</span> Species of bird

The American goldfinch is a small North American bird in the finch family. It is migratory, ranging from mid-Alberta to North Carolina during the breeding season, and from just south of the Canada–United States border to Mexico during the winter.

Goldfinch or The Goldfinch may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European goldfinch</span> Species of bird

The European goldfinch or simply the goldfinch is a small passerine bird in the finch family that is native to Europe, North Africa and western and central Asia. It has been introduced to other areas, including Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay.

<i>Carduelis</i> Genus of birds

The genus Carduelis is a group of birds in the finch family Fringillidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurasian siskin</span> Species of bird

The Eurasian siskin is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European siskin, common siskin or just siskin. Other (archaic) names include black-headed goldfinch, barley bird and aberdevine. It is very common throughout Europe and Eurosiberia. It is found in forested areas, both coniferous and mixed woodland where it feeds on seeds of all kinds, especially of alder and conifers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pine siskin</span> Species of bird

The pine siskin is a North American bird in the finch family. It is a migratory bird with an extremely sporadic winter range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citril finch</span> Species of bird

The citril finch, also known as the Alpine citril finch, is a small songbird, a member of the true finch family, Fringillidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red siskin</span> Species of bird

The red siskin is a small endangered finch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrence's goldfinch</span> Species of bird

Lawrence's goldfinch is a small songbird of erratic distribution that breeds in California and Baja California and winters in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-bellied siskin</span> Species of bird

The yellow-bellied siskin is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It breeds from Costa Rica south to southern Ecuador, central Bolivia and the highlands of northwestern Venezuela. According to phylogenetic studies Spinus notatus is its parental ancestor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British finches</span>

The British finches are made up of several species of finch which were formerly very popular as cage birds in Great Britain. They are not currently commonplace, but are still kept by a few dedicated fanciers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carduelinae</span> Subfamily of birds

The cardueline finches are a subfamily, Carduelinae, one of three subfamilies of the finch family Fringillidae, the others being the Fringillinae and the Euphoniinae. The Hawaiian honeycreepers are now included in this subfamily. Except for the Hawaiian honeycreepers which underwent adaptive radiation in Hawaii and have evolved a broad range of diets, cardueline finches are specialised seed eaters, and unlike most passerine birds, they feed their young mostly on seeds, which are regurgitated. Besides this, they differ from the other finches in some minor details of their skull. They are adept at opening seeds and clinging to stems, unlike other granivorous birds, such as sparrows and buntings, which feed mostly on fallen seeds. Some members of this subfamily are further specialised to feed on a particular type of seed, such as cones in the case of crossbills. Carduelines forage in flocks throughout the year, rather than keeping territories, and males defend their females rather than a territory or nest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hooded siskin</span> Species of bird

The hooded siskin is a small passerine bird in the finch family (Fringillidae), native to South America. It belongs to the putative clade of neotropical siskins in the genus Spinus sensu lato.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black siskin</span> Species of bird

The black siskin is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. According to some phylogenetic studies, Spinus notata is its parental ancestor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saffron siskin</span> Species of bird

The saffron siskin is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and urban areas. It is threatened by habitat destruction and the IUCN has assessed it as being a "least concern species".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andean siskin</span> Species of bird

The Andean siskin is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and heavily degraded former forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-breasted greenfinch</span> Species of bird

The yellow-breasted greenfinch is a small passerine bird in the family Fringillidae that is native to the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-faced siskin</span> Species of bird

The yellow-faced siskin is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in Brazil and Venezuela.

<i>Spinus</i> (bird) Genus of birds

Spinus is a genus of passerine birds in the finch family. It contains the North and South American siskins and goldfinches, as well as two Old World species.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2018). "Spinus psaltria". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T22720410A132139491. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22720410A132139491.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Beckman, Elizabeth J.; Witt, Christopher C. (2015). "Phylogeny and biogeography of the New World siskins and goldfinches: Rapid, recent diversification in the Central Andes". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (87): 28–45. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.03.005 . Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  3. 1 2 3 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (2020). "Finches, euphonias". IOC World Bird List Version 10.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  4. Say, Thomas (1823). "Animals — Sioux and Omawhaw Indians — Winter residence". In James, Edwin (ed.). Account of an expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains, performed in the years 1819 and '20 : by order of the Hon. J.C. Calhoun, sec'y of war: under the command of Major Stephen H. Long. From the notes of Major Long, Mr. T. Say, and other gentlemen of the exploring party. Vol. 2. Philadelphia: H.C. Carey and I. Lea. p. 40, note. Although the year is given as 1823 on the title page, the volume was actually published on 31 December 1822. See: Woodman, Neal (2010). "History and dating of the publication of the Philadelphia (1822) and London (1823) editions of Edwin James's Account of an expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains". Archives of Natural History. 37 (1): 28–38. doi:10.3366/E0260954109001636.
  5. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 319. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
  6. Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1968). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 14. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. pp. 246–247.
  7. Koch, Carl Ludwig (1816). System der baierischen Zoologie, Volume 1 (in German). Nürnberg. p. 232.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Willoughby (2007)
  9. Peterson et al. (1990), Sibley (2000)
  10. Hilty, Steven L., Birds of Venezuela, 2002, Princeton University Press
  11. 1 2 3 Finches and Sparrows by Peter Clement. Princeton University Press (1999). ISBN   978-0691048789.
  12. Birds of the World blog
  13. CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses by John B. Dunning Jr. (Editor). CRC Press (1992), ISBN   978-0-8493-4258-5.
  14. Quatro (2007)
  15. Sibley (2000)
  16. Peterson et al. (1990)
  17. Delgado-V. (2006)
  18. 1 2 Cisneros-Heredia (2006)

Sources