Lesser Goldfinch #2
by Robert Bales
Title
Lesser Goldfinch #2
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
A male Lesser Goldfinch resting in the sunshine.
This petite species is not only the smallest North American Spinus finch, it may be the smallest true finch in the world. Some sources list more subtropical Spinus species as slightly smaller on average, including the Andean siskin. 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). 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). There is a slight NW-SE cline in size, with the largest birds from Mexico and south being up to one-fifth larger than the smallest from the extreme NW of its range; this effect is more pronounced in females. There is also considerable variation in the amount of black on head and back in males, and thus three subspecies have been proposed. But this variation too seem to be simple and clinal changes in allele frequency, and thus the "subspecies" might be better considered morphs or geographical forms.
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 psaltria birds (Arkansas goldfinch) predominate. The light birds are termed hesperophilus and are most common in the far western U.S. and northwestern Mexico.
Jabbering clouds of yellow, green, and black Lesser Goldfinches gather in scrubby oak, cottonwood, and willow habitats of the western U.S., or visit suburban yards for seeds and water. These finches primarily eat seeds of plants in the sunflower family, and they occur all the way south to the Peruvian Andes. Listen closely to their wheezy songs, which often include snippets from the songs of other birds.
Uploaded
February 28th, 2015
Statistics
Viewed 2,111 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 03/28/2024 at 12:19 AM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Comments (28)
Christopher James
One of your peers nominated this image in the 1000 views Groups Special Features #18 promotion discussion. Please help your fellow artists by visiting and passing on the love to another artist in the the 1000 Views Group....L/F/Tw
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks, Christopher for the wonderful information, nice discussion, and the promotion!!
Carol Japp
A stunning capture Robert. Nominating for a special feature in the 1,000 Views group! l/f
JOHN TELFER
Robert, Beautiful detailed capture of this Lesser Goldfinch, great clarity in this image. I have nominated this image for a Special Feature in the 1000 Views Group
Don Columbus
Congratulations Robert, your work is Featured in "Birds In Focus" I invite you to place it in the group's "2018 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L/Tweet
Anita Faye
Robert, happy to feature your beautiful work on Poetic Poultry! https://fineartamerica.com/groups/poetic-poultry-.html
Bob and Nadine Johnston
Congratulations Your work was chosen to be Featured in ARIZONA - ARTISTS GROUP, from Hundreds of images submitted to the Group.