Male Lesser Goldfinches And Common Sunflower Seeds

Lesser Goldfinch male eating wild sunflower seeds – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I see American Goldfinches far more often than I do Lesser Goldfinches in the field so when I have the opportunity to photograph the smaller of the two species I jump at the chance. Yesterday opportunity knocked when several Lesser Goldfinches flew in to knosh on wild sunflowers seeds near a road at Farmington Bay WMA.

Adult male Lesser Goldfinch in autumn – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

There were male and female Lesser Goldfinches along with American Goldfinches and White-crowned Sparrows in the small mixed flock of birds foraging for the ripe seeds of the sunflowers. The female Lesser Goldfinches didn’t come out into the open like the males did so I focused on the more colorful males.

Male Lesser Goldfinch eating Common Sunflower seeds – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The plumage of the male Lesser Goldfinches was brighter yellow and more eye catching than the feathers of the females and the duller winter plumage of their larger relatives, the American Goldfinches.

Autumn male Lesser Goldfinch – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Clumps of our native sunflowers much like the rabbitbrush I mentioned in yesterdays post are places I look for small birds after the seeds ripen and yesterday having that knowledge paid off once again.

Male Lesser Goldfinch lifting off – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The small mixed flock of finches and sparrows were flushed by something I couldn’t see and when they all flew off they took refuge in a nearby conifer. I’m simply happy that I had them in my viewfinder for as long as I did.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Lesser Goldfinch photos plus facts and information about this species.