the ( southern ) pale chanting goshawk ( melierax canorus ) is a bird of prey in the family accipitridae .

this hawk breeds in southern africa .

it is a resident species of dry , open semi-desert with 75 cm or less annual rainfall .

it is commonly seen perched on roadside telephone poles .

this species is 56 – 65 cm long .

the adult has grey upperparts with a white rump .

the central tail feathers are black tipped with white , and the outer feathers are barred grey and white .

the head and upper breast are pale grey ; the rest of the underparts are finely barred in dark grey and white .

its eyes are yellow , the bill is mostly orange , and it has long orange legs .

it is paler than the grey-rumped dark chanting goshawk , melierax metabates .

in flight , the adult has black primary flight feathers , very pale grey ( white from a distance ) secondaries , and grey forewings .

the wingspan is about 105 cm .

immatures have brown upperparts , with a white rump and black bars on the tail .

from below , the flight feathers and tail are white with black barring , the throat is dark-streaked white , and the rest of the underparts are rufous .

the pale chanting goshawk eats a variety of vertebrate prey , mainly lizards , but also small mammals and birds , and large insects .

it often walks on the ground .

this is generally a rather quiet bird , but during the breeding season the male makes a series of tuneful whistling calls kleeuu , kleeuu-ku-ku-ku from a tree-top perch .

normally a female mates with a single male , but in " broken veld " vegetation , a female and two males may form a polyandrous trio .

the relatively small stick nest is built in an acacia at a height of 3 to 10 m .

the female lays and incubates one or two pale bluish or greenish white , unmarked eggs .

only one chick is normally reared from a nest of two .

the breeding cycle begins in midwinter and takes over 115 days .

the young after leaving the nest may be found near it for some months and in the following year may even display in the same area .

some pairs and especially trios raise a second brood , starting about 24 days after the first brood fledges .

pale chanting goshawk

southern pale chanting goshawk , beaufort west , south africa . [ photo trevor hardaker © ]
range : s pale chanting goshawk lives in eastern and southern africa from where it is endemic .
protection / trheats / status : s pale chanting goshawk is widespread and generally common in its range .
diet : s pale chanting goshawk feeds on rodents , lizards and insects . it may hunt birds ( as quails ) and hares .
southern pale chanting goshawk , just outside the addo elephant national park , eastern cape , south africa . [ photo duncan robertson © ]
flight : s pale chanting goshawk flies with steady , shallow wing beats , but it can change to fast , agile pursuit . it also alternates rapid wing beats with short glides .
s pale chanting goshawk is found singly or in pairs . pair has a well - defined territory , and usually stays in and around the same group of trees . they perform short hunting trips from these trees .
habitat : s pale chanting goshawk lives in savannahs , arid steppes and dry , open semi - desert . it is most common among scattered bushes and low thorn trees . in more arid areas , it is found along watercourses . it prefers limited groundcover areas .
mainly silent except in breeding season , when gives loud melodious chanting similar to but perhaps . . .
chicks are covered with pale grey down , with long darker down on crown . eyes are grey - brown . cere is greenish - grey . legs and feet are dull pale yellow .
distribution of southern pale chanting goshawk in southern africa , based on statistical smoothing of the records from first sa bird atlas project ( © animal demography unit , university of cape town ; smoothing by birgit erni and francesca little ) . colours range from dark blue ( most common ) through to yellow ( least common ) . see here for the latest distribution from the sabap2 .
behaviour : s pale chanting goshawk sits upright on its long legs when perched on a tree . it is often seen walking about on the ground . it can run very fast when pursuing a prey . but it also hunts from a perch . when prey is selected , it dives and runs after it . it also performs agile aerial chases after birds or hares running on the ground .
reproduction : s pale chanting goshawk’s nest is built in thorn acacias , in the upper fork of the tree , or on utility pole , at about 10 to 30 feet above the ground . nest is made with small sticks , but it is a small loose structure where some rags and dung are added as lining . the shallow nest - cup in the centre may size up to 25 cm in diameter .
voice : sounds by xeno - canto s pale chanting goshawk is rather silent , but during breeding season , we can hear series of melodious whistling calls rapidly repeated “klueee - kli - kli - kli - kli - klip - kleeeep” usually uttered at dawn , while perched or flying . we can also hear a long , drawn - out and high - pitched “kleeeeee - u , kleeeeee - u” at distinct intervals .
kemp , a . c . & kirwan , g . m . ( 2018 ) . pale chanting - goshawk ( melierax canorus ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
description : s pale chanting goshawk is a medium - sized raptor . adult has pale grey upperparts . on wings , secondary coverts have fine white bars . rump is white . tail is dark grey , with outer feathers barred with white . underparts are white , finely barred with wavy grey bars . chest is pale grey . underwings are black on outer primaries , and white on inner primaries and secondaries . tail is dark grey barred with white . on the head , crown is grey , becoming paler on nape and upper back . hooked bill is black , with yellow - orange cere and gape . eyes are red or reddish - brown . bare legs and feet are red . both sexes are similar in plumage , but female is larger than male .
46–60 cm ; male 493–750 g , female 700–1300 g ; wingspan 102–123 cm . white flecking on greater wing - coverts , pale secondaries and plain white rump . . .
female lays one or two pale bluish or greenish white eggs , at interval of several days , between june and february , according to the place . incubation is by female alone . only one young is reared by both parents . after fledging , young remains near the nest for some months , and next year , it may return in the same area for displaying .
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del hoyo , j . , collar , n . j . , christie , d . a . , elliott , a . and fishpool , l . d . c . 2014 . hbw and birdlife international illustrated checklist of the birds of the world . volume 1 : non - passerines . lynx edicions birdlife international , barcelona , spain and cambridge , uk .
justification : this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . the population trend appears to be stable , and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size is extremely large , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .
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sometimes considered conspecific with m . poliopterus , but differs on account of larger size ( male wing 328–346 vs 305–326 ) ( score at least 2 ) ; much whiter secondaries , forming distinct mottled white wingpanel at rest ( 2 ) ; red cere and legs vs yellow cere and orange legs ( 3 ) ; greyer dorsal area without darker grey - brown smudging ( 1 ) ; and ( in juvenile ) more uniform underparts # r . form argentior perhaps poorly differentiated , paleness possibly result of clinal variation . author of original description previously given as rislachi # r . two subspecies recognized .
what do ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) mean ? learn more about the scoring system .
clancey , 1960 – sw angola s and e through namibia , botswana and sw zimbabwe to n south africa ( e to c limpopo and nw free state ) .
( thunberg , 1799 ) – s south africa from western cape to se free state and c eastern cape ; formerly also s kwazulu - natal .
dry thorn savanna , arid steppe and even true desert with a few trees or woody succulents ; thus , . . .
small vertebrates , especially lizards and rodents , but also birds up to the size of francolin or small bustard and even more exceptionally . . .
laying jun–dec in south africa , but season overall jun–mar ( mostly jul–jan ) . chants from prominent perch with tail spread . . .
no regular movements recorded ( species occupies permanently defended territories of 200–1000 . . .
not globally threatened ( least concern ) . cites ii . widespread and common in semi - arid areas , with 400–900 pairs at edge of range in w transvaal , south africa . home . . .
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sometimes treated as incorporating micronisus . the two may be closely related to urotriorchis , with kaupifalco as sister to the three # r .
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one of a pair was calling from a tree while holding a lizard in its talons . recorded in the early morning in summer .
sonogram images © xeno - canto foundation . sonogram images share the same license terms as the recording they depict .
this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . the population trend appears to be stable , and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size is extremely large , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .
recommended citation birdlife international ( 2018 ) species factsheet : melierax canorus . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 . recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species : birdlife international ( 2018 ) iucn red list for birds . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 .
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juvenile has brown upperparts , with white rump . tail is brown barred with darker brown . underparts are white with lower breast and belly heavily barred with brown . underwing coverts are barred brown and white . tail is barred greyish brown and brown below . head is dull brown on crown . chin is white streaked with brown . breast is buffy - white streaked with dark brown . bill is black with grey cere and gape . legs and feet are dull orange . eyes are yellow .
when breeding season starts , male performs some displays . it perches on the top of a tall tree and utters its melodious call , often for hours . both mates can soar together , making circles at about 200 to 300 feet in the sky . they also perform an undulating flight display while calling . circling flight displays are made with slow wing beats .
near - endemic to southern africa , occurring from south - western angola to namibia , botswana , south - western zimbabwe and the western half of south africa . it generally prefers karoo shrubland , kalahari woodland , mopane ( colosphermum mopane ) woodland , acacia thornveld and riverine woodland in the namib desert - any habitat with patches of open ground ( exposing prey ) and perches to hunt from .
it can be both sedentary and nomadic , as juveniles disperse widely from their parents ' territory .
it mainly eats mammals , doing most of its hunting from a perch , descending to the ground to pursue and strike it ' s prey . it sometimes forages in family groups , so that some of the family members can flush prey , which another family member hunts down . it also follows black - backed jackals ( canis mesomelas ) , honey badgers ( mellivora capensis ) , slender mongooses ( galerella sanguinea ) , rock monitors ( varanus albigularis ) and cape cobras ( naja nivea ) , catching the prey that they disturb . the following food items have been recorded in its diet :
mainly monogamous , but in the little karoo it may be cooperatively polyandrous , as one female can mate with a primary male , while another male assists them with breeding activities ( occasionally mating with the female ) . this behaviour only occurs in high - quality territories , which have to be viciously defended . in fact , males from opposing territories sometimes fight to the death .
the nest is built by both sexes ( including an additional male if it they are a trio ) , consisting of a stick platform with a central cup . this can be lined with a wide variety of materials , including dung , regurgitated carnivore pellets , hair , wool ,
) , grass , fabric , paper , string , rope , plastic bags and cabling . when it builds a new nest each breeding season , it often moves the lining from the old structure to the new one . the nest can be placed in a variety of sites , especially the following :
egg - laying season is from may - december , peaking from july - november .
it lays 1 - 2 eggs , which are incubated by both sexes for about 35 days , both vigorously defending the eggs from intruders .
at first , the chicks are brooded and fed by the female , with food provided by the male or males ; she later joins them on hunting trips . they leave the nest at about 44 - 51 days old , becoming fully independent roughly 30 - 81 days , after which they remain in their parents ' territory for at least one more year .
hockey par , dean wrj and ryan pg 2005 . roberts - birds of southern africa , viith ed . the trustees of the john voelcker bird book fund , cape town .
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english - german online dictionary developed to help you share your knowledge with others . more information ! contains translations by tu chemnitz and mr honey ' s business dictionary ( german - english ) . thanks on that account ! links to this dictionary or to single translations are very welcome ! questions and answers


the lesser goldfinch ( spinus psaltria ) is a very small songbird of the americas .

together with its relatives the american goldfinch and lawrence 's goldfinch , it forms the american goldfinches clade in the genus spinus sensu stricto .

the american goldfinches can be distinguished by the males having a black ( rarely green ) forehead , whereas the latter is ( like the rest of the face ) red or yellow in the european goldfinch and its relatives .

north american males are markedly polymorphic and 5 subspecies are often named ; at least 2 of them seem to represent a less-progressed stage in evolution however .

lesser goldfinch

the lesser goldfinch is , as its name implies , the smallest north american goldfinch .
where their ranges overlap in california , the lesser goldfinch—though smaller—dominates the lawrence’s goldfinch . the lesser goldfinch eats first at feeding stations and chases lawrence’s goldfinches away from nesting sites .
the lesser goldfinch was first described in 1823 by thomas say , an american naturalist .
lesser goldfinches are vocal mimics , with dozens of other species’ calls having been recorded coming from lesser goldfinches over the years .
male ( left , image © dave mcmullen ) and female ( right , image © mike cornwell ) lesser goldfinch .
the species has received limited scientific attention . primary research papers dealing with lesser goldfinch biology include : observations of a nest (
the lesser goldfinch is a terrestrial bird species that is native to north america as well s countries in central america and south america . this bird is considered to be regionally extinct in cuba . the range of this bird is almost 4 million square kilometers . the population of the lesser goldfinch is about 3 million square kilometers . this bird species is currently rated as least concern . the prior rating for the lesser goldfinch was lower risk . at this time there are not any immediate concerns regarding the population or the range of the lesser goldfinch .
, resulting in a loss of goldfinch eggs and young . however , cowbird young are not successfully fledged from american goldfinch nests .
, where it is called the
eastern goldfinch
in the two former and the
willow goldfinch
in the latter .
goldwasser , s . 1987 . vocal appropriation in the lesser goldfinch . master ' s thesis , univ . of arizona , tucson , az . close
the lesser goldfinch is a small finch with yellow underparts and white - based primaries on blackish wings . it has a short , thick , dark bill .
the oldest known wild lesser goldfinch was a male , and at least 7 years old when he was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in california in 2015 .
willoughby ej ( 2007 ) geographic variation in color , measurements , and molt of the lesser goldfinch in north america does not support subspecific designation . condor 109 : 419–436
lawrence ' s goldfinch is known for its wandering habits . it breeds from about
the american goldfinch is not threatened by human activity , and is widespread throughout its range .
lesser goldfinches forage in trees and on weed stalks , and usually in flocks except during the breeding season .
coutlee , e . l . ( 1968b ) .
maintenance behavior of lesser and lawrence ' s goldfinches
.
) parasitize american goldfinch nests . parasitism rates of 9 . 4 % were reported in 1979 , but no brown - headed cowbirds successfully fledged from american goldfinch nests . documented internal parasites include avian trichomoniasis (
coutlee , e . l . ( 1968a ) .
comparative breeding behavior of lesser and lawrence ' s goldfinches
.
of the american goldfinch is a series of musical warbles and twitters , often with a long note . a
look for lesser goldfinches among large flocks of birds at feeder stations , and near the tops of taller trees in scrubby habitats . the all - black cap on the lesser is a good clue to distinguishing among mixed goldfinch groups . also keep an eye out for bright yellow birds in weedy fields clinging to the top of thistle plants that have gone to seed .
unlike some finch species , the american goldfinch uses its feet extensively in feeding . it frequently hangs from seedheads while feeding in order to reach the seeds more easily . in the spring , the american goldfinch feeds on the
this benefits the american goldfinch both as a short - distance migrant , and because the created open areas are the preferred environment of the bird , where weeds thrive which produce the primary food source of the american goldfinch .
lesser goldfinches are 10 - 12 cm and have a wingspan of 20 - 22 cm . they weigh 9 - 10 g .
seeking lawrence ' s goldfinch are advised to know this plant . at other seasons in california , it predominantly eats
davis , jeff n . ( june 2001 ) .
a closer look : lawrence ' s goldfinch
.
; the seed - rich diet of american goldfinch chicks varies from the usual insect - rich diet of other hosts .
lesser goldfinches are most common in california and texas , with pockets of local populations throughout the rest of its u . s . range .
throughout most of their range , lesser goldfinches are widespread and fairly common , and numbers are most likely stable . this range has expanded in recent decades , and washington is at its northern edge . the first breeding record of lesser goldfinches in washington was in 1975 . lesser goldfinches have adapted to a wide variety of foods and habitats , including those provided and modified by humans . this adaptability has probably helped the population remain stable .
males are very distinct from other goldfinch species . the female american goldfinch is larger and has white undertail coverts , a wide buffy lower wing bar with very little white at the base for the flight feathers , and a pale pinkish bill . a very pale female lesser can show whitish undertail coverts , but it has a different wing pattern than all americans and is always greener than the female lawrence’s .
coutlee , e . l . 1968b . maintenance behavior of lesser and lawrence ' s goldfinches . condor no . 70 : 378 - 384 . close
ebird range map - american goldfinch . ebird . cornell lab of ornithology , n . d . web . 20 july 2012 .
lesser goldfinches often nest in cottonwoods and willows along rivers , though they nest in a variety of trees and bushes . the female lesser goldfinch selects the nest site , choosing a spot in a fork of branches . they like spots concealed by clusters of leaves , or shaded by lichens or grapevines . nests are built 4 to 8 feet or higher off the ground and usually on slender twigs several feet out from a main branch .
watt , doris j . and ernest j . willoughby . 2014 . lesser goldfinch ( spinus psaltria ) , version 2 . 0 . in the birds of north america ( p . g . rodewald , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , new york , usa .
coutlee , e . l . 1968a . comparative breeding behavior of lesser and lawrence ' s goldfinches . condor no . 70 : 228 - 242 . close
american goldfinch ( carduelis tristis ) . the internet bird collection . lynx edicions , n . d . web . 20 july 2012 .
lesser goldfinch populations appear to be stable and increased by about 1 % per year between 1966 and 2015 , according to the north american breeding bird survey . partners in flight estimates the global breeding population at 7 million with 53 % spending some part of the year in the u . s . , and 57 % in mexico . the species rates an 7 out of 20 on the continental concern score . lesser goldfinch is not on the 2016 state of north america ' s birds ' watch list . human expansion , such as clearing that created weedy fields and suburban development , likely benefited this species . irrigation and planting of trees and shrubs allowed lesser goldfinches to expand their range near los angeles , california . in some arid regions , lesser goldfinches have lost the riparian habitat they need to survive there . they have been captured for the pet bird market in central america . back to top
lesser goldfinches occur in the southwestern and western u . s . , south to northern south america . the u . s . population appears to be stable .
the clearing of forests by humans , though harmful to many species , has benefited the american goldfinch . clearing of woodlands causes declines in numbers of
american goldfinch , life history , all about birds – cornell lab of ornithology . allaboutbirds . org . retrieved on 2013 - 02 - 22 .
middleton , a . 1979 . influence of age and habitat on reproduction by the american goldfinch . ecology , 60 / 2 : 418 - 432 .
the american goldfinch is a short - distance migrant , moving south in response to colder weather and lessened food supply . the migration is completed in compact
, which pose a threat to both young and adults . as of 2007 , the oldest known american goldfinch was 10 years and 5 months old .
coutlee , e . l . 1966 . the comparative behavior of lawrence ' s and lesser goldfinches . phd thesis , univ . of california , los angeles , ca . close
the american goldfinch ( spinus tristis ) , also known as the eastern goldfinch , is a small north american bird in the finch family . it is migratory , ranging from mid - alberta to north carolina during the breeding season , and from just south of the canadian border to mexico during the winter .
knight , r . , s . temple . 2006 . nest defense in the american goldfinch . animal behavior , 34 / 3 : 887 - 897 .
rosen , r . , k . tarvin . 2006 . sexual signals of the male american goldfinch . ethology , 112 / 10 : 1008 - 1019 .
lesser goldfinches are primarily seedeaters and eat mostly small weed seeds , especially thistle . they eat some small insects in the summer , particularly aphids , which they regurgitate for their young .
watt , d . j . , and e . j . willoughby . 1999 . lesser goldfinch ( carduelis psaltria ) . in the birds of north america , no . 392 ( a . poole and f . gill , eds . ) . academy of natural sciences of philadelphia and american ornithologists’ union . [ revised online 7 february 2014 ]
the american goldfinch is protected under the migratory bird act , but its populations are considered stable . the iucn red list classifies them as
least concern .
widespread across much of the west , the lesser goldfinch is less familiar than its more broadly distributed congener the american goldfinch . field marks include the black cap on males , yellow underparts continuing through the undertail coverts , and bold white wing and tail spots ( males ) . adult males vary from being green - backed in the western part of their north american range , to mainly black - backed in the southeastern part of their range . the following is a link to this photographer ' s website : urltoken .
lesser goldfinch : resident from washington , oregon , and northern nevada east to northern colorado and texas , and south beyond the u . s . - mexico border . eastern race is found from northern colorado southward through texas and westward to utah and arizona . western race occurs from utah westward to columbia river . preferred habitats include oak savannas and woodlands .
lesser goldfinches are active foragers and form flocks outside of the breeding season . they often mimic short bits of other birds ' songs , and like american goldfinches , they often call in flight .
american goldfinch young hatch naked , with reddish bodies and eyes closed . they develop quickly , opening their eyes by day three and fully opening them by day seven .
gross , a . o . 1968c .
spinus psaltria psaltria ( say ) lesser goldfinch .
in life histories of north american cardinals , grosbeaks , buntings , towhees , finches , sparrows and allies . , edited by jr o . l . austin , 471 - 474 . u . s . natl . mus . bull . no . 237 . close
in general , this species is less well known than its congener the american goldfinch ( carduelis tristis ) , being less widely distributed in the united states , less abundant , and less studied . much information available for the species is general and anecdotal and is often assumed to be similar to that known for the american goldfinch . like the american goldfinch , the lesser goldfinch breeds in loosely colonial groups , defending territories only near its nest , and it seems to be monogamous during the breeding season , with the male feeding the female on the nest throughout incubation . in winter it congregates in foraging flocks , often with other cardueline finches . throughout the year it feeds almost exclusively on seeds , mostly of composites . its adaptability to a wide range of foods and habitats , including those modified by human activities , appears to have protected it from widespread population decreases during the recent past .
in general , this species is less well known than its congener the american goldfinch ( spinus tristis ) , being less widely distributed in the united states , less abundant , and less studied . much information available for the species is general and anecdotal and is often assumed to be similar to that known for the american goldfinch . like the american goldfinch , the lesser goldfinch breeds in loosely colonial groups , defending territories only near its nest , and it seems to be monogamous during the breeding season , with the male feeding the female on the nest throughout incubation . in winter it congregates in foraging flocks , often with other cardueline finches . throughout the year it feeds almost exclusively on seeds , mostly of composites . its adaptability to a wide range of foods and habitats , including those modified by human activities , appears to have protected it from widespread population decreases during the recent past .
chambers , w . l . 1915 . history of a nest of the green - backed goldfinch ( astragalinus psaltria hesperophila ) . condor no . 17 : 166 . close
at feeding sites , lesser goldfinches typically mix in with other birds , such as lawrence’s and american goldfinches , pine siskins , house finches , lark sparrows , white - crowned sparrows , and western bluebirds .
middleton , a . 1993 . american goldfinch ( carduelis tristis ) . the birds of north america , 80 : 1 - 18 . accessed september 15 , 2007 at urltoken .
lawrence ' s goldfinch ( spinus lawrencei ) is a small songbird of erratic distribution that breeds in california and baja california and winters in the southwestern united states and northern mexico .
mansfield - jones , j . 1995 . impact of intestinal coccidiosis on the american goldfinch , carduelis tristis . ann arbor , michigan : university of michigan , dissertation , 592 pp . .
the range of the lesser goldfinch just barely reaches across the columbia river into washington . these finches are permanent residents in washington , and are , for the most part , restricted to klickitat county , where they are uncommon and local . they can be found in the lyle area from the klickitat river west to catherine creek , at maryhill state park , and along the eastern edge of the columbia river gorge .
marsh , r . , w . dawson . 1986 . winter fattening in the american goldfinch and the possible role of temperature in its regulation . physiological zoology , 59 : 357 - 368 .
the lesser goldfinch eats mainly seeds from the sunflower family ( asteraceae , or compositae ) , although they also eat coffeeberry , elderberry , and madrone fruits , as well as buds of cottonwoods , alders , sycamores , willows , and oaks . they feed in small groups , moving through low weeds and other plants to get to the seeds , buds , flowers or fruits . napa thistle is a primary food source . to eat seeds , the lesser goldfinch uses its bill to pry open the outer covering , shakes its head to loosen the husk , then swallows the seed . like american goldfinches , they cling to the seed heads of tall plants , bending the stem down so that it can end up hanging upside down while picking at the seeds . it will occasionally supplement its diet with insects such as plant lice . back to top
willoughby , e . j . ; murphy , m . ; gorton , h . l . ( 2002 ) .
molt , plumage abrasion , and color change in lawrence ' s goldfinch
.
the lesser goldfinch is a quick little bird , constantly hovering about and jerking its tail while feeding . on the wing , it has the same dipping , bouncy flight of the american goldfinch . and like other goldfinches , the lesser is gregarious , forming large flocks at feeding sites and watering holes . during breeding season , the male establishes his territory by calling and singing from atop tall trees , then gives courtship calls to attract a female into his territory . when a mate arrives , he chases her in flight , as the two dart through the foliage at high speeds . eventually they perch on the same branch , where they make courting displays—stretching their necks toward each other to touch bills and calling softly . after a few days , the male begins feeding the female , transferring food that he gathered into her bill . the male also feeds the female when she’s on the nest during incubation . back to top
) detailed study of diet , ecology , and breeding of goldfinch species at hastings natural history reservation in monterey co . , ca , provided the information in a . c . bent ' s life history series (
currently , american goldfinch populations are not decreasing . it is thought that their populations have increased since european settlement of north america . the clearing of forests for agriculture has vastly expanded the preferred habitat of american goldfinches .
rosen rf , tarvin ka : sexual signals of the male american goldfinch . ethology . 2006 , 112 : 1008 - 1019 . 10 . 1111 / j . 1439 - 0310 . 2006 . 01257 . x .
lesser goldfinches are typically found in dry , open woodlands . in washington , they are closely associated with garry oak , especially at the brushy edges of garry oak stands . they are usually found in pastures , steppe , forest openings , and streamsides .
throughout much of their range , lesser goldfinches are permanent residents . in the coldest parts of their breeding range , they may migrate short distances southward , or from higher elevations into lowlands . the winter range of those that do migrate is not well understood .
mcgraw kj , hill ge , stradi r , parker rs ( 2002 ) the effect of dietary carotenoid access on sexual dichromatism and plumage pigment composition in the american goldfinch . comp biochem physiol b biochem mol biol 131 : 261–269
human activity has generally benefited the american goldfinch . it is often found in residential areas , attracted to bird feeders which increase its survival rate in these areas . deforestation also creates open meadow areas which are its preferred habitat .
the lesser goldfinch makes its home in patchy open habitats of many kinds . from the western u . s . to south america , this songbird frequents thickets , weedy fields , woodlands , forest clearings , scrublands , farmlands , and even desert oases . you can also find them in parks and gardens in both suburban and urban settings . some common habitats in the western u . s . include oak , pinyon - juniper , cottonwood , willow , cedar , and pine woodlands , as well as chaparral . back to top
this bird is one of the extant parental species of one of the spinus / carduelis three evolutive north american radiation . that of tristis ( american goldfinch ) and psaltria ( which has extended itself down to north peru through the andean spine ) .
knight , r . ; temple , a . ( 1987 ) .
nest defence in the american goldfinch
. animal behaviour 34 ( 3 ) : 887–897 . doi : 10 . 1016 / s0003 - 3472 ( 86 ) 80075 - 6 .
the immature american goldfinch has a dull brown back , and the underside is pale yellow . the shoulders and tail are dull black with buff - colored , rather than white , markings on wings and rump . this coloration is the same in both genders .
the lesser goldfinch is a small , social , seed - eating songbird that inhabits a wide variety of habitats of the western united states from oregon east into colorado and texas , and south to mexico . south of the united states , it is widespread through mexico and central america , and its range extends into northern and western south america . in the united states , it is common in california , arizona , parts of new mexico and colorado and south - central texas , the areas of highest population density , but less common and more locally distributed in other regions .
dwight , jonathan jr . ( 1902 ) .
individual , seasonal , and geographical variations of the american goldfinch ( astragalinus tristis )
( pdf ) . the auk 19 ( 2 ) : 149–164 . doi : 10 . 2307 / 4069307 . jstor 4069307 .
rosen , rafael f . ; tarvin , keith a . ( 2006 ) .
sexual signals of the male american goldfinch
. ethology 112 ( 10 ) : 1008–1019 . doi : 10 . 1111 / j . 1439 - 0310 . 2006 . 01257 . x .
mcgraw , kevin j . and alex l . middleton . 2009 . american goldfinch ( spinus tristis ) , the birds of north america online ( a . poole , ed . ) . ithaca : cornell lab of ornithology ; retrieved from the birds of north america online : urltoken
lesser goldfinches readily come to feeders along with other finches such as american goldfinches and pine siskins . these small finches eat many kinds of seeds from the sunflower family , including the thin - hulled seeds of nyjer thistle . find out more about what this bird likes to eat and what feeder is best by using the project feederwatch common feeder birds bird list .
male lesser goldfinches in the eastern part of their range in the u . s . tend to have black backs . along the west coast , their backs are green , with only a black cap . elsewhere , the amount of black varies , with many birds having partly green backs . south of central mexico , all of the males are black - backed .
the lesser goldfinch is a small , social , seed - eating songbird that inhabits a wide variety of habitats of the western united states from oregon east into colorado and texas , and south to mexico . south of the united states , it is widespread through mexico and central america , and its range extends into northern and western south america . in the united states , it is common in california and central texas , the two areas of highest population density , but less common and more locally distributed in other regions . this species is most commonly found in small groups in open country with scattered trees , along western range foothills , and frequently in agricultural lands . like many cardueline finches , it is often nomadic and sporadic in occurrence .
understanding the mechanisms that allow invasive species to become more abundant is the first step in conservation and reconciliation ecology ( rosenzweig 2003 ) . although a full control of population size is impossible for many of these species , a partial control may help to keep populations of invasive species low enough to open niches for subordinate species . squirrel - proof feeders are good examples of a possible solution . whereas they do not have an obvious negative effect on squirrel population , use of the feeders reduces pressure on urban bird species simply by giving them better access to food resources . current field experiments from the cap lter indicate that similar results can be achieved by designing a sparrow - proof seed feeder , to support higher population densities of the subordinate lesser goldfinch in the urban environment .
american goldfinches make very poor hosts for brood parasites , with studies showing low hatching rates of brown - headed cowbird eggs and no fledging success . this is despite the fact that the american goldfinch has no known behavioral adaptations against brood parasites . it is thought that the inability of brown - headed cowbird chicks to survive is due to a failure to get enough
linsdale , j . m . 1968b .
spinus psaltria hesperophila green - backed goldfinch .
in life histories of north american cardinals , grosbeaks , buntings , towhees , finches , sparrows , and allies . , edited by jr o . l . austin , 474 - 486 . u . s . natl . mus . bull . no . 237 . close
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 .
very common in parts of the west , this tiny finch is easy to overlook until one learns its chiming and twittering callnotes . small flocks of lesser goldfinches are often found feeding in weedy fields or in streamside trees . two color patterns occur in the united states , and males in some areas may be either green - backed or black - backed . the complicated song of the male usually includes short imitations of the voices of other birds .
the only finch in its subfamily to undergo a complete molt , the american goldfinch displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration ; the male is a vibrant yellow in the summer and an olive color during the winter , while the female is a dull yellow - brown shade which brightens only slightly during the summer . the male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate .
the courtship rituals of the american goldfinch include aerial maneuvers and singing by males , who begin courtship in late july . the flight displays begin as the male pursues the female , who flies in zigzagging evasive patterns . the male is able to signal his quality and fitness , both in the short term ( current body condition ) and long term ( genes ) , through ornamentation ( bill color and plumage ) .
lesser goldfinches are small finches with bright yellow undersides . males have greenish - brown backs , black caps and wings with two white wing - bars , and a white patch on each wing . their tails are black with white patches on either side , and their undertail coverts are yellow ( contrasting with the white undertail coverts of american goldfinches ) . females lack the black cap and wing - bars of the males , are not as brightly colored , and lack the white on the tail ; they do have white patches on each wing .
arnaiz - villena , a . ; areces , c . ; rey , d . ; enríquez - de - salamanca , m . ; alonso - rubio , j . ; ruiz - del - valle , v . ( 2012 ) .
three different north american siskin / goldfinch evolutionary radia - tions ( genus carduelis ) : pine siskin green morphs and european siskins in america
. the open ornithology journal 5 : 73–81 . doi : 10 . 2174 / 1874453201205010073 .
females often express the same ornaments as males to a similar or lesser degree . female ornaments can be adaptive , but little is known regarding their origins and mode of evolution . current utility does not imply evolutionary causation , and therefore it is possible that female ornamentation evolved due to selection on females , as a correlated response to selection on males ( sexual constraint ) , or a combination of both . we tested these ideas simulating simple models for the evolution of male and female correlated traits , and compared their predictions against the coloration of finches in the genus carduelis .
the american goldfinch flies in a distinctive undulating pattern , creating a wave - shaped path . this normally consists of a series of wing beats to lift the bird , then folding in the wings and gliding in an arc before repeating the pattern . birds often vocalize during the flapping phase of the pattern and then go silent during the coasting phase . the call made during flight is
per - twee - twee - twee
, or
ti - di - di - di
, punctuated by the silent periods .
american goldfinches consume many different types of seeds from annual plants . analysis of the stomach contents of one goldfinch showed 50 different items , only 3 of which were insects . the others included a wide variety of
weed
seeds , such as seeds from grasses and trees ( alder , birch , cedar , elm , etc . ) goldfinches are well adapted to hanging on seed heads , and they prefer this to feeding on the ground . goldfinches drink by obtaining a mouthful of water and quickly tipping the head back to swallow .
the american goldfinch is a granivore and adapted for the consumption of seedheads , with a conical beak to remove the seeds and agile feet to grip the stems of seedheads while feeding . it is a social bird , and will gather in large flocks while feeding and migrating . it may behave territorially during nest construction , but this aggression is short - lived . its breeding season is tied to the peak of food supply , beginning in late july , which is relatively late in the year for a finch . this species is generally monogamous , and produces one brood each year .
lesser goldfinches nest in loose , colonial groups of monogamous pairs . nests are usually located in a vertical fork or branch of a tree , surrounded by dense foliage . the female builds the nest , which is a compact , open cup made of grass , plant fibers , and bark strips , with a lining of plant down . the female incubates 3 to 5 eggs for 12 to 13 days . the male brings her food while she incubates , and while she broods the young for the first few days after they hatch . after that , both parents bring food to the young . the young leave the nest after about two weeks , and the parents continue to feed the young for at least another week .
in the northern parts of their range , lesser goldfinches breed during the summer , but in the tropics they breed all year round . the female builds the nest , a compact , open cup made of fine plant materials such as lichens , rootlets , and strips of bark , placed in a bush or at low or middle levels in a tree . there the female lays 3 - 5 bluish white eggs , which she incubates alone for 12 - 13 days . the male brings her food while she incubates , and while she broods the young for the first few days after they hatch . after that , both parents bring food to the young . the young fledge 2 weeks after hatching , but the parents continue to feed the young for at least another week .
nesting occurs relatively late for a songbird . in most areas , egg laying occurs primarily in late june , july , and august , sometimes in may or into september , with a peak in june and july , but some populations in california and baja california nest from april to early july . clutch size is 4 - 6 ( usually 5 ) . incubation lasts 12 - 14 days . young leave the nest about 11 - 17 days after hatching . young depend on one or both parents for food for about 3 weeks after fledging . brown - headed cowbirds are brood parasites that sometimes lay eggs in american goldfinch nests . however , the cowbird young rarely survive . probably this is because goldfinches feed mostly seeds to their nestlings , and this diet is inadequate for cowbird development .
details of the rationale and predictions for these statistics are as follows . 1 ) the dispersion of phenotypes is expected to be lower in the constrained sex because the modelled constraints impose limits to evolutionary diversification . thus , the difference of male and female standard deviations tends to be positive when males are the independent sex , negative when females are the independent sex , and intermediate between those in the mutual constraint model . 2 ) the joint distribution of simulated phenotypes is made up of two distributions ( male and female ) with different averages . as the phenotypes of the independent sex tend to be more variable , the joint distribution will tend to be asymmetric and skewed in the direction of the independent sex ; in the mutual constraint model skews should be intermediate . 3 ) the slope of the regression of female on male phenotypes is expected to be lower when males are the independent sex and higher when females are the independent sex . this is because in this group females are ornamented to a similar or lesser degree than males . thus , when males are the independent sex , any decrease in male coloration of sexually monochromatic species pulls the female phenotype towards the lower left area of the plots in figure
how are the patterns of community profile and diversity associated ? we suggest that the decrease in evenness and the dramatic change in community profile is a key pattern for assessing the complex process of diversity loss . the population size of synanthropic species remains restricted in wildlands because of limited resource abundance and , possibly , a high density of natural predators . as long as these populations cannot grow beyond a particular threshold , less - responsive species can coexist with , and even dominate , synanthropic species in wildlands . in urban environments , however , changes in the bottom - up ( higher productivity and predictability of resource input ) and , to a lesser degree , top - down drivers ( lower predation pressure ) set new rules for the ecological and evolutionary game ( shochat et al . 2006 ) . we suggest that both factors , especially the bottom - up effect , favor a few synanthropic species . such species thrive , dominate the community , and utilize most of the available energy , leaving fewer resources for their competitors . in the long term , the competition for resources may cause local extinction of potentially adaptable native species ( species that can find a suitable habitat in urban settings ) , leading to reduced biodiversity , a pattern recognized worldwide ( marzluff 2001 , chace and walsh 2006 , grimm et al . 2008 ) .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
sacc . 2005 and updates . a classification of the bird species of south america . available at : urltoken .
justification : this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing , the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size is extremely large , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .
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a blog dedicated to the thousands of bird species that fly , swim or walk on our planet .
mexico , along central america , and into venezuela , colombia , ecuador and peru .
they are typically found in dry , open woodlands and in pastures , steppes , forest openings , and along streams .
they mostly eat tree buds and weed seeds , but may occasionally take some arthropods .
this species has a very large breeding range and a global population estimated at 3 million . it may have undergone a small decline over the last few decades , but the species is not considered threatened at present .
the female builds most of the nest over 4 to 8 days , while the male stays nearby and watches . she begins by collecting plant materials such as leaves , bark , catkins , cocoons and spiderwebs in her bill . she weaves these together into a cup and then lines the nest with hair , feathers , wool , rabbit fur , or cottonseed fibers to complete a dense , cup about 3 inches wide and an inch deep .
dunne , p . ( 2006 ) . pete dunne ' s essential field guide companion . houghton mifflin harcourt , new york , usa .
lutmerding , j . a . and a . s . love . longevity records of north american birds . version 2015 . 2 . patuxent wildlife research center , bird banding laboratory 2015 .
sauer , j . r . , d . k . niven , j . e . hines , d . j . ziolkowski , jr . , k . l . pardieck , j . e . fallon , and w . a . link ( 2017 ) . the north american breeding bird survey , results and analysis 1966–2015 . version 2 . 07 . 2017 . usgs patuxent wildlife research center , laurel , md , usa .
sibley , d . a . ( 2014 ) . the sibley guide to birds , second edition . alfred a . knopf , new york , usa .
widespread ( including much of tropics ) and fairly common , numbers probably stable .
open brushy country , open woods , wooded streams , gardens . generally in semi - open areas , where there are thickets and trees close to open weedy fields , from low valleys to high in mountains . in dry country , usually found close to water . in the tropics , found in semi - open terrain , woodland edges .
forages actively and acrobatically in trees , shrubs , and weeds . except when nesting , usually forages in flocks .
4 - 5 , sometimes 3 - 6 . pale blue to pale blue - green , usually unmarked . incubation is by female only , about 12 days . male may feed female during incubation . young : both parents feed the nestlings . age at which young leave nest is not well known . 2 broods per year , perhaps sometimes 3 .
both parents feed the nestlings . age at which young leave nest is not well known . 2 broods per year , perhaps sometimes 3 .
mostly seeds , some insects . majority of diet at all seasons consists of seeds . especially favors those of the daisy ( composite ) family , such as thistle and wild sunflower , also seeds of various weeds . also feeds on flowers and buds of trees ( such as cottonwoods ) and on some berries . eats some insects , especially in summer , mainly small ones such as aphids . will feed on salt .
in warmer parts of southwest , breeding season may extend over much of year from early spring to mid - autumn . in courtship , male feeds female ; performs display flight with wings and tail spread widely , fluttering rapidly while singing . nest : usually placed in vertical fork of twigs in shrub or tree , 5 - 30 ' above the ground , sometimes higher in tree or very low in bushes or dense weeds . nest ( built mostly or entirely by female ) is a compact open cup woven of grass , plant fibers , strips of bark , lined with plant down .
permanent resident in much of range , summer resident only in some inland parts of the west north of the desert regions . very rare stray east of normal range .
song a rapid medley of twittering notes . calls include a plaintive tee - yee ? or cheeo ?
audio © lang elliott , bob mcguire , kevin colver , martyn stewart and others .
to kick off spring , southwestern new mexico audubon society recently hosted a native - plants giveaway for community members .
as the climate changes , desert - dwelling birds are going to need more oases than ever to stay cool and hydrated , according to a new study .
this is the california gold rush they don’t teach you about in history class .
amegol _ 8 . per - tee - tee - teeflightcalls _ nyle _ 1 . mp3
tell congress to oppose a harmful rider that threatens sage - grouse and other wildlife .
tell congress and the department of the interior to uphold the country ' s most important bird protection law .
this very common carduelid finch of the southwest breeds in a variety of habitats at different elevations . it is often seen in small flocks feeding along brushy roadsides , particularly where thistle grows . northern populations migrate south in winter , augmenting resident populations from southern california to southern texas . it is often detected by its distinctive flight calls . polytypic . length 4 . 5
.
there are 2 distinct subspecies in north america . the green - backed hesperophila is more widespread in the southwest , with black - backed hesperophila breeding from colorado to southern texas . intergradation occurs clinally between texas and colorado .
calls : includes a plaintive , kittenlike tee - yee . song : very complex jumble of musical phrases , often mimicking other species .
very common . breeding : a variety of habitats at different elevations from arid lowlands to high pine forests , often found near water . winter : northern and high elevation populations migrate to southern united states and mexico , augmenting resident populations there . vagrant : casual north and east of mapped range in great plains . accidental in the east .
bna account authors : watt , doris j . , and ernest j . willoughby
editor ' s note : recent mitochondrial genetic data indicate that carduelis is polyphyletic and that spinus spp . belong to different clade . see the 50th supplement to the aou check - list of north american birds for details . future revisions of this account will reflect this change .
notable characteristics of this species are its incorporation of other species ' songs into the male song repertoire , and its geographic plumage polymorphism : western males ( c . p . hesperophila ) have green backs , and eastern forms ( c . p . psaltria ) have black backs . these 2 subspecies also exhibit different molt and breeding phenologies .
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) , in neotropical birds online ( t . s . schulenberg , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , ny , usa . retrieved from neotropical birds online :
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members of this diverse group make up more than half of the bird species worldwide . most are small . however their brains are relatively large and their learning abilities are greater than those of most other birds . passerine birds are divided into two suborders , the suboscines and the oscines . oscines are capable of more complex song , and are considered the true songbirds . in washington , the tyrant flycatchers are the only suboscines ; the remaining 27 families are oscines .
the finch family is made up of acrobatic seedeaters with conical bills and notched tails . many are nomadic , wandering in winter in search of abundant seeds . most finch species flock outside the breeding season , and many form flocks during the breeding season as well . many finches have undulating flight patterns , and may give calls while in flight . they tend to inhabit forest patches and shrubby edges . most finch species are sexually dimorphic and monogamous , and although the females alone generally incubate the eggs , both sexes help tend the young . unlike many seed - eating birds that feed protein - rich insects to their young , many finches feed their young mostly seeds .
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wings , tail black with white markings . forages in shrubs , brush , weedy fields for seeds and insects . swift flight , alternates rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides .
males are markedly polymorphic and 5 subspecies are often named ; at least 2 of them seem to represent a less - progressed stage in evolution .
their molt shows a broad zone of intergradation , with the molting period , timing , and pattern varying depending on geographical location .
a group of goldfinches has many collective nouns , including a
007
,
charm
,
rush
,
treasury
, and
vein
of goldfinches .
also known as perching birds , the order passeriformes ( pronounced pas - ser - i - for - meez ) is composed of one hundred and eighteen families of birds , among which are included the insectivorous warblers and the seed - eating finches .
the fringillidae ( pronounced frin - jihl - lih - dee ) is a widespread bird family found on most continents and includes two hundred and seven species of finches in thirty - nine genera .
eighty - nine species of fringillidae in twenty - nine genera have occurred in north america and hawaii . these include familiar feeder visitors such as goldfinches and siskins , the nomadic rosy - finches of the high mountains , and a group with several extinct species ; the hawaiian honeycreepers .
fringillidae are known for their seed - eating behavior and cheery songs ; characteristics that facilitated and popularized the domestication of the island canary . finches such as white - winged crossbills are also known for their
irruptive
migrations in search of food sources that can make them locally common one winter and absent the next .
fringillidae are primarily small birds with stout , short bills adapted to cracking open seeds and have short legs for a mostly arboreal lifestyle . most species also have slightly forked tails and long wings , both useful for the large amount of flying needed to find seeding plants . although some hawaiian honeycreepers share this general structure , others evolved a variety of bill shapes related to the habitat niches they occupy .
north american fringillidae are generally plumaged in shades of red , yellow , brown and dull green - these colors being more vivid in the case of the hawaiian honeycreepers . male finches are more brightly colored than females , the yellow and black plumage of male goldfinches being especially striking .
fringillidae in north america occupy forest and non - forest habitats , coniferous forests being favored by most species while native hawaiian forests are necessary for the survival of the hawaiian honeycreepers . the non - forest niche is filled by goldfinches ( birds of weedy fields and desert ) , the house finch ( a desert species that has become adapted to urban environments ) and the rosy - finches of alpine snow fields and tundra .
most fringillidae are adapted to cold weather and only migrate when seed crops on their breeding grounds become scarce . rosy - finches practice
vertical migration ,
moving to nearby lower elevations with better supplies of food during the winter .
members of the fringillidae family are very social birds typically found in flocks outside of the breeding season . although the rosy - finches take much insect prey on the ground and some hawaiian honeycreepers eat nectar , most finches forage for seeds in trees and bushes .
while fringillidae in the united states and canada are doing quite well , most hawaiian honeycreeper species are highly endangered with many having already gone extinct and others in decline because of their high susceptibility to introduced diseases such as avian malaria and changes to the native forests they inhabit .
the aptly named crossbills have curious curved bills with crossed tips . although it looks more like a bill deformity than a useful tool , this specialized bill shape is perfect for extracting seeds from pine cones . males of the house , cassin ' s , and purple finch species can sometimes develop yellow or orange rather than red plumage depending upon the amount of carotenoids present in their food sources .
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the nest is usually in a twig fork of a tree , mostly hidden by foliage or lichens .
the female , which builds most of the nest without help from the male , begins by collecting plant materials with her beak . the materials can include leaves , bark , catkins , yucca fibers , cocoons and spiderwebs . sometimes she strips branches of their fibers , holding them with her feet .
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how to attract goldfinches . alex sally nyjer feeder top tip ( wales england ) hd
hbw alive contains information on descriptive notes , voice , habitat , food and feeding , breeding , movements , status and conservation plus a list of bibliographical references for this species account .
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two scenes of a female foraging on the seed pods of a milkweed plant .
an adult male feeding on tall grass seed heads while a perched juvenile begs for food .
a frontal view of a male perched calling softly , and then joined by a female .
don desjardin , pere sugranyes , josep del hoyo , juan sanabria , curt kessler , pieter de groot boersma , digitalbcon , lebanese26 , daniêl jimenez , thore noernberg , miguel emmanuelli , yoël jimenez , hector ceballos - lascurain , mauricio rueda , keith and lynn youngs , ken simonite .


the cyclopidae are a family of copepods containing more than half of the 1,200 species in the order cyclopoida in over 70 genera .

cyclopidae

kento furui added the japanese common name
ケンミジンコ科
to
cyclopidae
.
copepods from ground waters of western australia , vi . cyclopidae ( crustacea : copepoda ) from the yilgarn region and the swan coas
up to now , 16 species belonging to 7 genera of cyclopidae - cyclopoida are recorded in fresh waters of vietnam . the amount of species of cyclopidae of vietnam can be surely increased , when genera microcyclops , thermocyclops and mesocyclops should be revised in species composition .
copepods from ground waters of western australia , vi . cyclopidae ( crustacea : copepoda ) from the yilgarn region and the swan coastal plain
copepods from ground waters of western australia , vi . cyclopidae ( crustacea : copepoda ) from the yilgarn region and the swan coastal plain | western australian museum
cyclopidae live mostly in freshwater . benthopelagic or , sometimes , pelagic organisms , the animals are predators that feed on protozoans , rotifers , and small crustaceans . in turn , cyclopidae serve as food for fish and fry . they are intermediate hosts for parasitic worms , such as the guinea worm and the broad tapeworm .
walter , t . c . & boxshall , g . ( 2018 ) . world of copepods database . cyclopidae rafinesque , 1815 . accessed at : urltoken ; = 106413 on 2018 - 07 - 09
walter , t . c . & boxshall , g . ( 2018 ) . world of copepods database . cyclopidae rafinesque , 1815 . accessed through : world register of marine species at : urltoken ; = 106413 on 2018 - 07 - 09
abstract : the homology of the antennulary segments of species belonging to some genera of cyclopidae is determined by comparing the common setation patterns on female antennules . comparison of the setation pattern has confirmed that there are always 44 setae and 3 aesthetascs on the female antennules of all the genera examined . this study shows that the strict application of homology is essential in order to resolve the phylogenetic relationships between the genera of cyclopidae . although both ectocyclops phaleratus and paracyclops canadensis have 11 - segmented antennules , the analysis of segmental homologies has shown that the 11 - segmented condition has occurred due to convergent evolution in these two species belonging to different genera . in addition , several segmental fusions of the female antennules have been identified as apomorphic states and can be used in phylogenetic studies .
an electronic update to the checklist delle specie della fauna italiana . copepoda calderini ed . italy - 1995 and to the checklist of the species of the italian fauna by f . stoch urltoken
moreover , the inadequacy of existing descriptions of numerous species and genera , as well as the recent discovery of several taxa combining morphological characteristics of different genera , such as diacyclops kiefer , 1927 , acanthocyclops kiefer , 1927 , megacyclops kiefer , 1927 , allocyclops kiefer , 1932 , mesocyclops g . o . sars , 1914 and thermocyclops kiefer , 1937 , further complicate the taxonomic understanding of this group of microcrustaceans ( mazepova 1978 ; monchenko 1985 ; petkovski 1986 ; boxshall et al . 1993 ; reid 1993 ; fiers et al . 1996 ) .
the present confusion among the cyclopoid copepods is also largely due to the fact that certain fundamental micro - characters , such as the ornamentation of the antenna and antennula , and the armature of basis , coxa and couplers of the swimming legs , once considered unimportant , are often neglected in the specific descriptions and illustrations .
the cyclopoids are the most abundant and successful group of copepods in continental fresh waters , such as running waters , lakes , ponds , temporary pools , as well as ground ( hyporheic , phreatic , cave ) waters . many of them are marine and parasitic , as well .
* synonym of eucyclops serrulatus s . str . ( mastrantuono & mancinelli , 1996 )
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genus prehendocyclops rocha c . e . f . , iliffe , reid & suárez - morales , 2000
genus rheocyclops reid , strayer , mcarthur , stibbe & lewis j . , 1999
genus cryptocyclops sars g . o . , 1927 accepted as microcyclops claus , 1893 ( synonym )
genus leptocyclops sars g . o . , 1914 accepted as eucyclops claus , 1893 ( synonym )
genus nauplius müller o . f . , 1785 accepted as cyclops müller o . f . , 1785 ( synonym )
genus pachycyclops sars g . o . , 1914 accepted as macrocyclops claus , 1893 ( synonym )
genus platycyclops sars g . o . , 1914 accepted as paracyclops claus , 1893 ( synonym )
boxshall , g . ( 2001 ) . copepoda ( excl . harpacticoida ) , in : costello , m . j . et al . ( ed . ) ( 2001 ) . european register of marine species : a check - list of the marine species in europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification . collection patrimoines naturels , 50 : pp . 252 - 268 ( look up in imis ) [ details ]
martin , j . w . , & davis , g . e . ( 2001 ) . an updated classification of the recent crustacea . science series , 39 . natural history museum of los angeles county . los angeles , ca ( usa ) . 124 pp . ( look up in imis ) [ details ] available for editors [ request ]
costello , m . j . ; emblow , c . ; white , r . ( ed . ) . ( 2001 ) . european register of marine species : a check - list of the marine species in europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification . collection patrimoines naturels , 50 . muséum national d ' histoire naturelle : paris , france . isbn 2 - 85653 - 538 - 0 . 463 pp . ( look up in imis ) [ details ]
walter , chad . the world of copepods . , available online at urltoken [ details ]
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martin , j . w . , & davis , g . e . ( 2001 ) . an updated classification of the recent crustacea . science series , 39 . natural history museum of los angeles county . los angeles , ca ( usa ) . 124 pp . ( look up in imis ) [ details ] available for editors
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upcoming events 2018 bugguide gathering in virginia july 27 - 29 : registration and discussion photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in wisconsin , july 10 - 12 photos of insects and people from the 2014 gathering in virginia , june 4 - 7 . photos of insects and people from the 2013 gathering in arizona , july 25 - 28 photos of insects and people from the 2012 gathering in alabama photos of insects and people from the 2011 gathering in iowa photos from the 2010 workshop in grinnell , iowa photos from the 2009 gathering in washington
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the ephemeral pond is humming these days , and the buglady has been giving her 50mm macro lens a workout , channeling her inner photomicroscopist ( a person who takes pictures through a microscope ) . a reminder to newer bugfans—the botw definition of “bug” is the one that your average first grader uses .
the cyclops is an aquatic non - insect whose name is taken from a character in classical greek mythology ( the buglady trusts that bugfans will dust off the tattered edith hamilton mythology paperbacks they’ve been carting around since high school and will look up the story of cyclops ) . the buglady has always viewed cyclops as tiny , benign critters that twitch through their watery lives at the very limits of her vision , but it turns out that they have a dark side .
cyclops and the rest of their copepod brethren are everywhere on the globe , mainly in calm waters , cold or warm , from the water traps of bromeliads to roadside ditches to underground caves to oceans . they migrate passively , caught up in the feathers of waterfowl , stuck to aquatic insects that move from pond to pond , or in dust clouds that blow encysted larvae across the landscape from a dried up pond . they are among the most numerous of multi - celled animals in any body of water .
yes , they are small—the average cyclops needs to stand on tiptoes to reach 2mm . though they can scarcely be seen in a basin of pond water , cyclops are instantly recognizable because of their jerky movements and because the female is almost always toting around an egg sac or two .
the actions of a number of appendages combine to cause their characteristic gait . when they begin to row with their five pairs of legs ( copepod means paddle foot ) , the antennae are tucked against the body at the start of the leg stroke but are extended at the end of the stroke , which acts to put on the brakes but also helps to keep the tiny critter from sinking ( all this in less than 1 / 12 of a second ) . they use the abdomen as a rudder .
what fuels cyclops ? depending on the species , they are powered by plankton and other organic matter , algae , detritus , or by eating animals even tinier than themselves . some are parasites . they form a link in the food chain between the even - tinier algae and bacteria that they consume and the larger plankton predators that are eaten by fish . one of cyclops’ predators is a plant—carnivorous bladderworts catch and digest them in underwater bladders . cyclops are sometimes introduced into aquaria to provide food for fish , but they may reproduce faster than the fish can eat and overrun the tank .
and the dark side ? cyclops can be an intermediate host to some pretty nasty parasites including the guinea worm in africa and asia , a fish tapeworm that makes eating sushi and ceviche a potentially risky business , and a roundworm in asian countries that can infect humans with a condition with the awesome name of gnathostomiasis ( the asian swamp eel that is the main host for this nematode has found its way to the americas , so the stage is set ) . there’s a link between copepods and cholera in some tropical countries – the cholera germ hitches a ride on the tiny , swimming critters .
interesting cyclops fact—cyclops are present in the water supply of some large american cities , where routine treatment renders them harmless ( dead ) but does not filter them from the system . as crustaceans , they are not kosher according to strict jewish dietary laws , making unfiltered tap water off limits to observant jews .
jennifer hammock split the classifications by smithsonian type specimen data from euryte to their own page .
jennifer hammock split the classifications by bolds resource for species - level taxa from tropocyclops to their own page .
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mclaughlin et al . 2005 . common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the united states and canada : crustaceans . american fisheries society special publication 31
disclaimer : itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available , and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties . however , it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes . while every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up - to - date information available , ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the united states is a party , wildlife statutes , regulations , and any applicable notices that have been published in the federal register . for further information on u . s . legal requirements with respect to protected taxa , please contact the u . s . fish and wildlife service .
a family of crustaceans of the subclass copepoda . the animals measure 1–5 . 5 mm in length . they have a single median eye ( hence the name ) . the antennules are short , and the antennas are single - branched and are used for swimming . the abdomen is longer than the cephalothorax . the females have two egg sacs . the heart is absent . the family includes approximately 250 species distributed throughout the world .
, a third genus of parastenocaridid copepods from australia supported by molecular evidence , limnetic zooplankton of chilean lakes and reservoirs , diversity and spatial distribution of copepods in the st .
, cosmopolitan forms were dominant ( 10 species ) , followed by neotropical ( 5 ) , nearctic ( 5 ) , and endemic ( 4 ) elements ( table 1 ) .
( three species ) and diaptomidae ( one species ) ( table 1 ) .
eucyclops elegans ( herrick , 1884 ) x mesocyclops meridianus ( kiefer , 1926 ) x x x x metacyclops mendocinus ( wierzejski , 1892 ) x x x x paracyclops chiltoni ( thomson , 1883 ) x thermocyclops decipiens ( kiefer , 1929 ) x x x x thermocyclops inversus ( kiefer , 1936 ) x x tropocyclops prasinus ( fischer , 1860 ) x x diaptomidade notodiaptomus cearensis ( wright , 1936 ) x x x x harpacticoida potamocaris sp .
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to cite this page : myers , p . , r . espinosa , c . s . parr , t . jones , g . s . hammond , and t . a . dewey . 2018 . the animal diversity web ( online ) . accessed at https : / / animaldiversity . org .
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
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abstract – species of cyclopoid copepods collected from the yilgarn region included halicyclops eberhardi sp . nov . , metacyclops cf . monacanthus kiefer , 1928 and microcyclops varicans ( g . o . sars , 1863 ) . metacyclops fiersi sp . novo was recorded from the swan coastal plain .
the discovery of halicyclops eberhardi sp . novo increases to five the number of congeners from australia , the others being h . ambiguus kiefer , 1967 from south - eastern australia , h . longifurcatus pesce et al . , 1996 and h . spinifer kiefer , 1935 , both from the cape range , north - western australia , and h . rochai de laurentiis et ai . , 1999 , from the robe river basin , western australia .
the discovery of metacyclops fiersi sp . novo and metacyclops cf . monacanthus brings to five the number of species and subspecies of the genus from australia , the others being m . arnaudi ( g . o . sars , 1908 ) and m . arnaudi platypus kiefer , 1967 , both from victoria , and m . mortoni pesce et al . , 1996 , from north - western australia .
p . de laurentiis , g . l . pesce and w . f . humphreys
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adams , w . f . ( compiler ) , j . m . alderman , d . j . demont , j . w . reid , a . y . taylor & d . j . williams , 1992 . a report on the conservation status of north carolina ' s freshwater and terrestrial crustacean fauna . scientific council on freshwater and terrestrial crustacea . unpublished report to north carolina wildlife resources commission . raleigh , north carolina , 77 pp .
barnard , j . l . , 1991 . amphipodological agreement with platnick . j . nat . hist . , lond . 25 : 1675–1676 .
chengalath , r . & c . - t . shih , 1993 . littoral freshwater copepods of northwestern north america : northern british columbia . verh . int . ver . limnol . in press .
dodson , s . , 1991 . species richness of crustacean zooplankton in european lakes of different sizes . verh . int . ver . limnol . 24 : 1223–1229 .
dodson , s . , 1992 . predicting crustacean zooplankton species richness . limnol . oceanogr . 37 : 848–856 .
dussart , b . & d . defaye , 1990 . répertoire mondial des crustacés copépodes des eaux intérieures . iii . harpacticoïdes . crustaceans , suppl . 16 : 1–384 .
ebert , s . , 1976 . natürliches system und biogeographie der familie canthocamptidae ( copepods harpacticoida ) am beispiel neotropischer taxa . ph . d . dissertation , christian - albrechts - univ . , kiel , 335 pp .
hamond , r . , 1987 . non - marine harpacticoid copepods of australia . i . canthocamptidae of the genus
hernández - trujillo , s . 1991 . variación latitudinal de la diversidad de copépodes en la costa occidental de b . c . s . , méxico 1982–1984 . cienc . mar . 17 : 83–103 .
lehman , j . t . , 1988 . ecological principles affecting community structure and secondary production by zooplankton in marine and freshwater environments . limnol . oceanogr . 33 : 931–945 .
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matsumura - tundisi , t . 1986 . latitudinal distribution of calanoida copepods in freshwater aquatic systems of brazil . rev . brasil . biol . 46 : 527–553 . ( includes errata sheet for p . 551 ) .
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platnick , n . i . , 1991 . patterns of biodiversity : tropical vs . temperate . j . nat . hist . , lond . 25 : 1083–1088 .
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reid , j . w . , 1985 . chave de identificaçào e lista de referências bibliográficas para as espécies continentais sulamericanas de vida livre da ordem cyclopoida ( crustacea , copepoda ) . bolm zool . , s . paulo 9 : 17–143 .
reid , j . w . , 1990 . continental and coastal free - living copepods ( crustacea ) of mexico , central america and the caribbean region . in : d . navarro l . & j . g . robinson ( eds ) , diversidad biólogica en la reserva de la biosfem de sian ka ' an , quintana roo , mexico . centro de investigaciones de quintana roo ( ciqro ) and program of studies in tropical conservation , university of florida , chetumal , quintana roo , méxico : 175–213 .
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macrocyclops albidus and paracyclops affinis are cosmopolite species . eucyclops euacanthus was recorded in asean , china and india . the tropocyclops candidiusi was described first time from taiwan ( china ) by harada ( 1931 ) , tropocyclops bopingi was firstly described from guangdong ( china ) by dumont ( 2006 ) , that widely distributed in south china
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