Where are Lesser Goldfinch found?

The Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) is a small songbird native to western North America. They are brightly colored finches with black wings, white rumps, and bright yellow bodies. Lesser Goldfinch are found across much of the western United States and Mexico. Their range extends from southern Canada south through the western U.S. to central Mexico. They occupy a variety of open habitats including woodlands, shrublands, and weedy fields. Lesser Goldfinch are resident across most of their range, only migrating short distances. Here we’ll take a closer look at exactly where Lesser Goldfinch occur and their geographic distribution.

Geographic Range

Lesser Goldfinch are found across the western half of North America. Their breeding range extends from southern British Columbia in Canada south through Washington, Oregon, and California. Eastward their range stretches across Idaho, Nevada, Utah, western Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Isolated populations occur in western Texas.

In Mexico, Lesser Goldfinch breed from Baja California north in the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental mountain ranges. They occur south to Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo, and northern Oaxaca.

Across the southern portions of their range from southern California to Mexico, Lesser Goldfinch are resident year-round. Further north they may migrate short distances of a few hundred miles. Northern populations in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia move south to California and Arizona for the winter months.

States and Provinces

Lesser Goldfinch occur in the following U.S. states and Canadian provinces:

• British Columbia
• Washington
• Oregon
• California
• Idaho
• Nevada
• Utah
• Arizona
• New Mexico
• Colorado
• Texas

In Mexico, they are found in:

• Baja California
• Baja California Sur
• Sonora
• Chihuahua
• Coahuila
• Sinaloa
• Durango
• Nayarit
• Jalisco
• Zacatecas
• Guanajuato
• San Luis Potosí
• Querétaro
• Hidalgo
• Oaxaca

Habitats

Lesser Goldfinch occupy a variety of open and semi-open habitats across their range. They are found in both natural and human-modified environments.

Some of the key habitats used by Lesser Goldfinch include:

• Chaparral
• Oak savanna
• Pine-oak woodlands
• Riparian woodlands
• Desert scrub
• Agricultural areas
• Orchards and vineyards
• Residential areas
• Roadsides
• Weedy fields

They occur from sea level up to around 9,000 feet in elevation. At higher elevations they are found predominantly in open conifer forests, meadows, and mountain shrub habitat.

Breeding Habitat

During the breeding season Lesser Goldfinch seek out habitats with an abundance of seeds and nesting sites. They are strongly associated with seed producing plants that provide food for them and their young.

Some of the key plants found in Lesser Goldfinch breeding habitat include:

• Oaks (Quercus spp.) – acorns
• Pines (Pinus spp.) – seeds
• Mulberries (Morus spp.) – berries
• Willows (Salix spp.) – seeds
• Alders (Alnus spp.) – cones
• Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) – seeds
• Thistles (Cirsium spp.) – seeds
• Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) – seeds

These and other seed producing plants provide an ample food source for Lesser Goldfinch through the breeding season. The birds also rely on shrubs and small trees for nesting sites. Favored nest sites include fruit trees, rosebushes, deerweed, and other shrubs. Access to water sources such as streams or bird baths is also important.

Wintering Habitat

In the winter months, Lesser Goldfinch congregate in large flocks seeking out plentiful sources of food. They frequent many of the same open habitats used in the summer, but often concentrate near areas with abundant seed sources.

Weedy fields, pastures, and agricultural areas that provide seeds of grasses, thistles, and annual plants are very attractive to wintering Lesser Goldfinch. They also feed heavily on buds and fruits of trees and shrubs such as cottonwoods, willows, and sumacs. Backyard bird feeders stocked with nyjer seed are a magnet for Lesser Goldfinch during winter.

Range Map

This map shows the overall geographic breeding range of the Lesser Goldfinch across western North America:

Population and Conservation Status

Lesser Goldfinch are common to abundant throughout most of their range. Their total global population is estimated at 3.5 million individuals. Population trends appear to be stable and the species is not considered threatened.

Population Estimates by Region

Lesser Goldfinch adapt readily to human landscapes and urban areas. They are actually more common and successful around agriculture and development than in pristine natural habitats. This affinity for human-modified environments has likely contributed to their abundance across much of their range.

While global populations are robust, local declines have occurred in some regions such as coastal southern California. Causes may include loss of favorable breeding habitat and increased competition from closely related American Goldfinch expanding their range. But overall Lesser Goldfinch remain secure and thriving over most of western North America.

Conclusion

In summary, Lesser Goldfinch primarily occupy the western half of North America across the western United States, western Canada, and Mexico. Their range stretches from southern British Columbia to central Mexico. These finches breed in a variety of open habitats including chaparral, woodlands, scrublands, agricultural areas, and suburbs. They are quite abundant across the majority of their range. Populations appear stable and the Lesser Goldfinch is not considered a conservation concern. They are easily observed across much of western North America by birdwatchers and backyard bird feeder watchers alike.