American vs. Lesser Goldfinch (Oakland, Ca, USA) (1 Viewer)

[has530]

After being up for a few weeks, the goldfinches have finally discovered my nyjer feeder! They love it and I have to refill it almost every day. Today while watching them I realized I wasn't entirely sure I would know an american goldfinch if I saw one. Any tips for distinguishing markings of an american goldfinch? I snapped some photos of visitors today. I am assuming all the ones shown are lesser goldfinches but if I am wrong I would be glad to be corrected. Tried to include some that showed various parts of the birds.
Thanks!

 

[rkj]

These do all look like Lesser Goldfinches. On problematic birds look for white undertail coverts in all American Goldfinches - these are yellowish (may be quite pale) in Lesser Goldfinches. If you have a good view of the tail look at the pattern of the white. The white stops well short of the tip in male Lesser Goldfinches and females Lessers have essentially none. American Goldfinches of both sexes have white that goes to the tip of the tail.

 

[KC Foggin]

Lesser was my first thought.