Cute Finch is a photograph by Robert Bales which was uploaded on March 4th, 2015.
Title
Cute Finch
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
A Lesser Goldfinch resting on a old bird house.
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
March 4th, 2015
Statistics
Viewed 1,926 Times - Last Visitor from Brandon, MB - Canada on 03/22/2024 at 6:07 AM
Colors
Embed
Share
More from Robert Bales
Comments (21)
Luther Fine Art
Congratulations! Your fantastic photographic art has been chosen as a Camera Art Group feature! You are invited to archive your work in the Features Archive discussion as well as any other discussion in which it would fit.
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks so much for the nice feature, congrats and the promotion. I am on the road for 8 weeks so I will not add it to any discussions..
Anita Faye
Robert, stunning goldfinch capture! Featured on Poetic Poultry! https://fineartamerica.com/groups/poetic-poultry-.html
John M Bailey
Congratulations on your feature in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Robert Bales replied:
Thannks John for the nice feature in your group and it is greatly appreciated!!
William Tasker
Lovely, Robert! Your beautiful image has been featured by Wild Birds Of The World. L/F
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks William for the very nice feature and the LF!! It is greatly appreciated!!
Bob and Nadine Johnston
Congratulations Your work was chosen to be Featured in ARIZONA - ARTISTS GROUP, from Hundreds of images submitted to the Group.