MALE. Link to Female Lesser Goldfinch for comparison: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197844034
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) Is a small songbird, only 11 cm (4.5 inches) long. It is smaller and darker billed than the American Goldfinch. Both male and female have white wing patch at base of primaries. Adult male has and entire black crown. Underside, starting at lower bill, is bright yellow. Adult females and juveniles have dull yellow underside. There are several subspecies. Two color patterns occur in the United States. Males in some areas may be either green-backed or black-backed. Lesser Goldfinches gather in scrubby oak, cottonwood, and willow habitats of the western U.S., or visit suburban gardens for seeds and water. These finches primarily eat the seeds of plants. In bird feeders, they especially enjoy Nyger seeds.
Visual comparison of 4 species of Spinus: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/search/?q=Spinus+lawrencei
Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/search_results?search=Spinus%20psaltria
Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/lesgol/
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, pp. 442-443.
Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society
The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Goldfinch
Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Spinus-psaltria
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008
The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name)
Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/
Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php
5 Snowy Plover appeared here today, unusual, because no nests have been made here this summer...once again, sad to say.