Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
The Lesser Goldfinch ranges from the southwestern United States (near the coast, as far north as extreme southwestern Washington) to Venezuela and Peru. It migrates from the colder parts of its range in the USA. These are the smallest true finches on earth.
Science recognises the five following subspecies:
- S. p. Hesperophilus sometimes called the Green-Backed Goldfinch, lives in western USA and northwestern Mexico
- S. p. witti Iives on islands off western Mexico
- S. p. Psaltria or the Arkansas Black-Backed Goldfinch lives in western-central USA and south to central Mexico
- S. p. Jouyi lives in southeast Mexico and northwest Belize
- S. p. Colombianus lives in southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America
Of all the birds in my Poway yard in southern California, these birds are the most common, and are resident year round. Give a careful listen to their songs, and you might recognise snippets stolen from other bird species, only sped up from the original version. My yard has been the most convenient location to meet these sweetest of birds. Yet I’ve enjoyed finding Lesser Goldfinches elsewhere in California, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and in Langtry (Texas). Most folks visiting Langtry focus on the Roy Bean historical aspect, and while I too enjoyed this facet, it was birds, such as this smallest member of the finch clan in the Cactus Garden that drew me to this place.
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: At "The Springs" on Santa Rosa Mountain. Southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:09:11 13:53 |
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Location:
Ribbonwood |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X2658-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: A female bird at "The Springs" on Santa Rosa Mountain. Southern Riverside County, California USA 2011-09-11. |
Date Taken: 2011:09:11 14:40 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X2668-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:16 18:12 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/3.5, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X7884-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: A begging Juvenile at Goodan Ranch, Sycamore Canyon. Poway, California. San Diego County USA 2008-09-08. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:08 14:41 |
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Location:
Goodan Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: jcd0025LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Vista Grande site. Images from the SDNHM study of the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto Mountains. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:06:28 15:24 |
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Location:
Vista Grande |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD1223.LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: A "Bright" female at the springs, on Santa Rosa Mountain, Southern Riverside County, California USA 2010-08-13. |
Date Taken: 2010:08:12 18:23 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/50 |
File Name: JCD5408.LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Goodan Ranch, Sycamore Canyon. Poway, California. San Diego County 2008-06-14. |
Date Taken: 2008:06:14 11:20 |
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Location:
Gooden Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD6941LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: A juvenile bird from my Poway yard. California. San Diego County USA 2004-07-23. |
Date Taken: 2004:07:23 12:18 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 600 mm, f/9.5, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD_7178LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Rustler Park near the higher elevations of the Chiricahua Mountains. South Eastern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:27 18:05 |
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Location:
Rustler Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD_1106LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: A juvenile begging to be fed in Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:07:22 10:58 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X3992-LesserGoldFinch-Juvenile |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: A few captured moments with thirsty bathers in November with yardbirds at my Poway home. Poway California in San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:11:23 14:50 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LesserGoldfinch_D5X8246-Poway |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: At the Touvelle State Recreation Area, Rogue Valley Game Management Area, near Eagle Point, Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:29 14:51 |
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Location:
TouVelle State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729738-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Agua Caliente Park in Northeastern Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:24 13:39 |
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Location:
Agua Caliente Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: LesserGoldFinch_D5X7122 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: 2012 Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:16 17:56 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/5000 |
File Name: LesserGoldFinch_D3X7737 |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: 2012 Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:16 17:58 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/5000 |
File Name: LesserGoldFinch_D3X7797 |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2018:05:09 18:22 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: LesserGoldFinch_D503765-Poway |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2018:04:26 17:42 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: LesserGoldFinch_D502833-Poway |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:16 17:38 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X7664-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway, Cailifornia. San Diego County 2012-08-09. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:09 17:47 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X4656-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:12 16:25 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/4.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X6501-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:12 18:20 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/4.5, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X6682-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway, Cailifornia. San Diego County 2012-08-09. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:09 17:50 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X4667-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: The cactus gardens at the Judge Roy Bean Museum can be a lovely place to meet birds. It took me five days to putt my way out of Texas. I stopped along the road a few times to visit the birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:12 14:57 |
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Location:
Langtry Cactus Garden |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: LesserGoldFinch_D5X8446_Langtry |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: There was a riches in finches on this morning, with American and this Lesser Goldfinch, along with abundant Pine Siskins. The Rio Grande Nature Center is one of my favorite locations to visit when I’m in Albuquerque. This was my first winter visit, and it did not disappoint. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:17 11:28 |
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Location:
Rio Grande Nature Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: LesserGoldfinch_D5X7879-RioGrandeNatureCenter-ABQ |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Chiracahua Mountains. South Eastern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:27 18:03 |
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Location:
Rustler Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_1099LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Lower Rock Creek between Lake Crowley and Round Valley in the Eastern Sierras. Mono County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:07 9:08 |
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Location:
Lower Rock Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: LesserGoldFinch_D5X7722 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Camped with the San Diego Natural History team near Campo California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2017:10:25 8:45 |
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Location:
Clover Flat |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: LesserGoldFinch_D5X5476-CloverFlats |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:12 12:35 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6016-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:11 15:31 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X4905-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:11 17:52 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X5417-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:11 17:52 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X5418-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:29 10:49 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X2375-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway, Cailifornia. San Diego County 2012-08-09. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:09 17:05 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X4511-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway, Cailifornia. San Diego County 2012-08-09. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:09 17:45 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X4632-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:06:06 16:28 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X5604-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lesser Goldfinch(Spinus psaltria) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:16 17:56 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X7737-LesserGoldFinch |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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