Lawrence’s Goldfinch
Glen Tepke
Lawrence's Goldfinch
The Lawrence’s Goldfinch is one attractive bird, featuring gray body plumage, yellow wing markings, and a yellow patch on the center of the breast, which distinguishes it from its close relatives, the Lesser and American Goldfinches. The male has a distinctive black face.
On the Menu
The species feeds mostly on seeds of annual plants, with a strong preference for fiddlenecks in its breeding range; in winter, its diet varies by region.
Home Sweet Home
Lawrence's Goldfinches typically occur in arid, open woodlands near chaparral, weed fields, and small bodies of water in parts of the West and northwest Mexico. They typically breed between mid-April and late July. These birds generally travel in pairs or flocks.
How Am I Doing?
Low population numbers make the Lawrence’s Goldfinch a bit hard to find, but its population is relatively stable. Nevertheless, much of the breeding range of this species is under pressure from development, so habitat loss from encroachment may put the species at some risk.
Help from Audubon
Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count is one of the most important tools we have to track the population of this fascinating species, and the Important Bird Areas program identifies vital habitat areas.
Fun Fact
The bird’s erratic distribution makes it very hard to study. You almost never know where it’s going to turn up within its usual range.
