Finches at the feeder
Note that the seed level is at about three-quarters full. I took this photo less than 24 hours since I filled the feeders to the top. Clearly, the Nyjer Seeds are very popular with the finches.
We get a couple of species of finch that visit the feeders: House Finches and Goldfinches.
I asked GROK about the birds in this photo:
These are Lesser Goldfinches (Spinus psaltria), a very common and delightful visitor to nyjer (thistle) feeders in Arizona.
Quick Breakdown of the Birds in Your Photo:
- Bottom left (brightest one): Adult male Lesser Goldfinch. You can clearly see the diagnostic solid black cap, bright lemon-yellow underparts, and black wings with bold white wingbars/patches. This is the classic look for males in breeding plumage.
- Bottom right: Likely a female or immature/juvenile. Females are duller overall (more olive-yellow) with less contrast, no full black cap, and subtler wing markings.
- Top right (on the side): Another bird in a more olive/grayish-green plumage, typical of females or younger birds.
- There’s also a partially visible bird behind the feeder on the left that appears to have streaked brown tones, possibly another finch or a different visitor.
Lesser Goldfinches are one of the most frequent nyjer-seed specialists in the Southwest. They’re small, acrobatic, and often come in small flocks. In the high Sonoran Desert around Wickenburg, they’re year-round residents and love these tube-style finch feeders.
Camera Info:
- Camera: Canon EOS Rebel SL3
- Artist: Cap’n Bob (C) 07/18/2026
- Exposure: 1/320 sec.
- Aperture: F5.6
- Speed: ISO 200
- Focal Length: 180mm
- Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM