Lesser goldfinch acrobatic feeder
Small bird common in New Mexico, often seen darting through trees
The lesser goldfinch is a small bird, averaging 4.5 inches long, that resides in the western U.S., including New Mexico. Its range extends throughout the West and down to the Peruvian Andes. The male is striking, with a bright-yellow breast, black cap and white wing patches. Males can have a greenish or a black back. The females and juveniles have a duller, olive-colored body with white wing bars. They are a year-round resident in our state but often move to lower elevations, generally below 7,000 feet, during winter. They are tiny, but one can find them by listening for their chatty, wheezy songs and whistles or watching for a dash of yellow as they dart through tree branches.
Lesser goldfinches are found in a variety of habitat, including mountain canyons, desert river valleys, clearings and urban and suburban areas. They often mix with other bird species, including pine siskins and house finches, especially when searching for food. Their diet consists mainly of sunflower seeds, but they also eat new buds from oak, cottonwood and willow trees. I commonly see them picking the flower buds from the Russian sage plants in my yard. They are quite acrobatic when feeding, clinging to the top of a plant seed head, hanging upside down as they pick out the tiny seeds. These colorful little birds can be attracted to your yard with a thistle feeder. Lesser goldfinches love nyjer thistle! They are also regular visitors to birdbaths and are especially attracted to moving water.
Lesser goldfinches begin nesting in midsummer when their natural foods are most abundant. The female builds the nest while the male guards the nesting territory. The female builds a dense, cup-shaped nest using hair, feathers, cottonseed fibers and rabbit fur. The nest can be found in cottonwoods, willows and other trees 4 to 8 feet off the ground. It is not unusual to see young lesser goldfinches squawking at their parents for food after they have left the nest. Watch and listen for them as they perch on a branch and flutter their wings, begging a parent to bring them a snack.
This colorful, chatty little goldfinch has a stable population. Like most native bird species, it is protected under our federal law. In Central America, however, the lesser goldfinch is not protected and continues to be captured for the pet bird market.