Finches

4 species

All groups

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis

SmallCommon

Oregon's state bird, and a completely different-looking animal in July than in
January.

Year-round, but transformed between seasons Thistle, weedy edges, seed feeders Its call is recorded in the field guide
Open the field guide
House Finch

House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus

SmallAbundant

The red finch at the feeder. Common enough to be invisible, and the color on the
males is worth paying attention to.

Year-round Feeders, eaves, parking lots, street trees Its call is recorded in the field guide
Watch the video Open the field guide
Lesser Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria

TinyCommon

Smaller and darker than the American Goldfinch, and often in the same weed patch.

Year-round, more conspicuous in summer Weedy edges, gardens, sunflower and thistle Its call is recorded in the field guide
Watch the video Open the field guide
Pine Siskin

Pine Siskin
Spinus pinus

SmallIrruptive — abundant some winters, absent the next

A small streaky finch with a sharp bill and a flash of yellow in the wing. Some
winters there are hundreds of them and the next there are none at all — and that
restlessness turns out to matter more than anyone realized.

Mostly winter, in restless flocks Conifers and alders, and feeders in any neighborhood with trees Its call is recorded in the field guide
Open the field guide