Lawrence's Goldfinch

Carduelis lawrencei

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

12 cm (5") Locally common but erratic. Southwestern United States. Prefers dry grassy slopes, chaparral, oak-pine woods but may flock with other goldfinches.

Flesh-colored bill.

Male: black face (cap and throat). Flesh-colored bill. Gray upperparts (brownish in winter). Yellowish underparts. Extensive yellow in wings.

Female: head and back grayish. Yellowish breast and rump. Extensive yellow on wings.

Song: melodious tinkle notes; bell-like "tink-ul" flight call.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

3 photos

Credit: Bill Bouton

Credit: Bill Bouton

Credit: Linda Tanner

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Lawrence's Goldfinch

Credit: Don DesJardin

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 3 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Lawrence's Goldfinch (Male)

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1055-lawrences-goldfinch-male:1:1 Source: 1055 Lawrence's Goldfinch (Male), row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Fall · Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1055-lawrences-goldfinch-male:2:1 Source: 1055 Lawrence's Goldfinch (Male), row 2

Lawrence's Goldfinch (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1056-lawrences-goldfinch-female:1:1 Source: 1056 Lawrence's Goldfinch (Female), row 1