Male Lesser Goldfinch has a dark bill compared to the light, slightly thinner bill of the American Goldfinch. Breeding- plumaged male Lesser Goldfinches have all dark back or greenish back and are generally easy to distinguish from the American Goldfinch.

Female Lesser Goldfinch can be confused with the female or winter male American Goldfinch. Lesser Goldfinch has dark bill, usually greener back with more white at the base of the flight feathers. Undertail coverts are white in the American Goldfinch, yellow to greenish yellow in the Lesser Goldfinch.

Ranges of the two species overlap in much of the western United States.

Lesser Goldfinch: green-backed male

Lawrence's Goldfinch has extensive yellow in the wings. Males have a black face as opposed to a black cap in the American Goldfinch. Female Lawrence's Goldfinch could be confused with female American Goldfinch when in non-breeding plumage. Watch for the yellow in the wings of Lawrence's.

Ranges overlap in parts of California.

Lawrence's Goldfinch: male-breeding plumage