Lawrence’s Goldfinch

Appearance

Size: L 4.5″
Shape: Small, slim, small-headed bird with a short, notched tail and short, fairly deep-based conical bill.

Both Sexes: Gray body, golden patch on breast; black wings with golden wingbars (or whole wing coverts); golden edges to primaries and secondaries; pinkish bill. Adult Male: Black foreface and forecrown; bright and extensive golden on breast and wings, expanding by wear through the breeding season.

Adult Female: All-gray head; reduced and duller golden on breast and wings.
1st Winter: M. similar to ad. m. but with partial black on foreface and forecrown; f.

Juv: (May–Aug.) Like ad. but with brownish wash overall; indistinct dusky streaking on breast and belly.

Natural History

In year-to-year movements, it is perhaps even more erratic than other goldfinches, and, is like crossbills and the Pine Siskin in site fidelity. Shows a strong preference for seeds of the Boraginaceae, particularly fiddleneck, which is almost invariably used when available in spring (Linsdale 1950). Seeds (mature and in milky stage) of fiddleneck are a major food source. In fact, presence of fiddleneck may partly determine breeding range and nesting sites of the species (e.g., Linsdale 1957). In winter, diet varies mostly by region. In much of California, achenes of chamise are eaten predominantly (Gander 1930, Martin et al. 1951, Linsdale 1957), with lesser amounts of annual seeds and berries such as mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.) and coffeeberry (Linsdale 1957).

Taxonomy

Monotypic

Object of study

Irruptive behaviors around food crops of the Boraginaceae, particularly fiddleneck. Mimicry in song.

Flight Call

tink-ul and a pi-bi-dee and not easily confusable with other goldfinches.

Irruptions

In some winters, the species irrupts into Arizona, New Mexico, and even into western Texas and northern Mexico, but in other winters, it is virtually absent from those areas.