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Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

First Seen

12/01/2013
Los Angeles, CA

Captured media details

MFU

Notes & Observations

11/8/22 – I remember my first few times seeing the Lesser Goldfinch when I lived in California. I was familiar with American Goldfinches at the time but was confused by these birds that had so much more black on them. I thought they looked really cool and the birders I was with identified them. They have a pretty whistling song and I usually find them foraging in trees in groups. The featured photo above was captured at Crescent Bend Nature Park in a bird blind and perch setup.

I haven’t quite nailed their song down by ear yet. If I’ve heard it recently I can pick it out. Certain songs they make I can call, but their presence has surprised me a few times. I had a nice experience recording them at Denman Park last year. They were deep inside a tree in the parking lot and their song attracted me to their location. No other birds were in earshot so it made it easy to get good recordings.

📸 Captured

🎙️ Recorded

Further reading

  • Birding at twilight

    Birding at twilight

    I have always been a morning person and always officially birded in the morning. Usually, I start around 8 AM but this time I wanted to try out birding in the evening. Birds are most active when the sun rises and right before it sets.

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  • Birding at Crescent Bend Nature Park

    Birding at Crescent Bend Nature Park

    This morning I took a trip across town to visit a new birding spot, Crescent Bend Nature Park. I decided to go birding this morning rather late (by birding standards) and didn’t arrive at the park until 9 AM. Nonetheless, I was ready to see what I could find on my first visit.

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  • Leading a bird walk at Pearsall Park with Bexar Audubon Society

    Leading a bird walk at Pearsall Park with Bexar Audubon Society

    This morning I led a bird walk at Pearsall Park for Bexar Audubon Society. I’ve been looking forward to this bird walk for months and was excited to share the park with a bunch of new people. I was hopeful for good birds today to excite the first-time visitors but you never know what you’ll…

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