Thanks for the "Latin lingo"... hehe.
I'm not a true birder, but I like to try to identify the ones that I see. Their funny ways are delightful to watch. I like wild critters in general, as long as they're not bigger than I am... LoL.
If Lesser Goldfinch only appears there in December and January, it must live further north for the rest of the year... Interesting.
I'm not either, but, like you, I like to be able to identify the ones I see around here. It's the same with plants that grow here. As far as birds go, between my Audubon Bird Guide and the internet, I have managed to identify most of those that are frequent visitors.
I saw a Killdeer a few years ago. I thought it was injured because it was flopping around like it's wing was broken. I thought I was going to have to rescue it, until I realized that it was all a big act in order to distract me from her nest! Isn't animal behavior interesting?
"If a predator approaches, a nesting Killdeer performs a conspicuous distraction display, dragging itself as if mortally wounded, often on one foot, its wings seemingly broken and its rusty tail fanned toward the intruder. This feigning of injury is effective in luring the predator away from the eggs or young, at which point the bird then "recovers" and flies off, calling loudly."