Goldfinches 

George Walter

Jill Severn | The JOLT News

We have two members of the goldfinch branch of the large finch family here in Thurston County — the American goldfinch and the lesser goldfinch. All finches are seed-eating birds with a conical bill suitable for cracking open seeds. Also, the males of finch species are typically much more brightly colored than females.  

Our goldfinches are relatively small birds, about sparrow-sized or smaller. They are very active, moving about in small flocks from site to site looking for a ready supply of seeds. This means that goldfinches can, at times, be regular visitors at seed-containing bird feeders. 

An American goldfinch male, as seen in this undated photo.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT News

Since the American goldfinch is the Washington state bird, most people are familiar with it. If you get a good look, American goldfinch males are unmistakable. They are bright yellow with a black forehead and wings.

In flight, the wings flash bright white patches. Females are more modestly colored, a more olive gold, and they lack the black cap of the males. They also have black wings with white patches.  

These birds are noisy, but it’s difficult to accurately describe their many vocalizations; they are a variety of twitters and other notes. Because of this variation, using the Merlin app (and who doesn’t these days?), is especially useful for vocal identification.     

Goldfinches have a unique flight, flying in in a deep undulating pattern and usually twittering to each other. Their black wings and white wing patches help with this flying identification. For me, one of my most common views of goldfinches is in flight, and I depend on the deep dips in their flight for identification.  

A male lesser goldfinch, as seen in this undated photo.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT News

The flight pattern and vocal descriptions for American goldfinches also apply to the lesser goldfinch, although the vocalizations are wheezier. Overall, this species is less boldly colored than the American and it is also slightly smaller.

Males have yellow chests, a greenish back and a black cap covering his entire head. (Note: your bird book may show lesser goldfinch males with a black back, but that is an eastern subspecies not usually seen here).  

A female lesser goldfinch, as seen in this undated photo.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT News

Female lesser goldfinches are a dull yellowish and olive. Both sexes have black wings with white patches, but they are not nearly as noticeable as those of American goldfinches. Thus, to human eyes (smaller size, less flashy gold and that wing flash) this species is definitely the lesser. 

Lesser goldfinches have caught the attention of researchers and birders lately because they are rapidly expanding their home range. Several annual bird count programs indicate this species is dramatically increasing throughout the Pacific Northwest. In fact, a recent report states lesser goldfinch numbers for Washington increased 110% between 2012 and 2022.  

Interestingly, the analysis suggests that bird feeders are not a major driver of this range expansion. However, there is some indication that human-modified habitats and more non-native food plants may play an important role. Whether climate change is playing a role is part of the ongoing research assessment. 

For Thurston County, as recently as five years ago, finding a lesser goldfinch would be a rare event, but now it’s common. We don’t know whether lesser goldfinches are breeding locally, but it’s certainly possible. Here’s a fun assignment: after getting comfortable with identifying lesser goldfinches, let’s keep a collective eye peeled for fledglings! 

Dawn chorus

As the daylight gets longer, one must get outside earlier to catch the beginning of the avian dawn chorus. Right now, it begins at about 5 a.m. and it will be 4:30 or earlier by mid-June.

Fortunately, not all the bird species prefer singing at first light — many prefer an hour or two later, and that might apply to us too.  

Here’s what I am doing: On good weather days, I go outside with my smartphone and its Merlin app. I walk around the yard, sometimes in my bathrobe, and listen for 10 minutes.

I have been varying the timing from day to day. For example, today (May 21) I started listening at 6:45. The next I will shoot for 5:45 and be interested in how many different birds are singing at different hours. (Interestingly, one day when I started very early, I caught our local great-horned owl finishing his all-night vocal routine). It’s surprising how the bird list varies from day to day. 

And, getting out early and often is a good way to notice the arrival to your area of new migrants. Today I heard birds that likely were not here a week ago — western tanager, Swainson’s thrush and warbling vireo.

And, as a bonus, species that are preparing to leave for higher elevation — red crossbill and evening grosbeak — were flying overhead during my 10 minutes. I didn’t hear them, but Merlin did. Good Merlin, the bird watchers’ friend.  

George Walter is environmental program manager at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s natural resources department; he also has a 45+ year interest in bird watching. He may be reached at george@theJOLTnews.com 

Photos for this column are provided by Liam Hutcheson, a 17-year-old Olympia area birder and avid photographer.