General

Lawrence's Goldfinch: Small finch with gray nape and back and yellow-gray rump. Underparts are white; breast is yellow. Cap and face are black. Wings are dark with bright yellow bars. Females lack black facial markings. Winter adults are duller. Juvenile has streaked underparts.

Range and Habitat

Lawrence's Goldfinch: This species breeds in central and southern California, west of Sierra Nevada and south into Baja California. Spends winters south and east from California through southern Arizona and New Mexico to extreme western Texas and south into northwestern Mexico. Found near dry grassy slopes with weed patches, chaparral, and open woodlands.

Breeding and Nesting

Lawrence's Goldfinch: Four or five light blue, sometimes brown spotted eggs are laid in a tightly woven cup nest set in a low tree or bush. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Lawrence's Goldfinch: Eats seeds and insects; forages in foliage and on the ground.

Readily Eats

Peanuts, Suet, Millet, Thistle, Fruit, Sunflower Seeds (hulled)

Vocalization

Lawrence's Goldfinch: Song is a hurried jumble of melodious and scratchy notes, often incorporating both its own call notes and those of other species. Its flight note, which often reveals the bird's presence high overhead, is a high tinkle, with the first note being higher.

Similar Species

Lawrence's Goldfinch: Lesser Goldfinch has an olive-green back, yellow rump, and yellow-green underparts.