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Help develop a Bird ID tool!

Lawrence's Goldfinch

Spinus lawrencei ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: FRINGILLIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

A handsome and uncommon small finch, Lawrence's Goldfinch breeds across a small range in the woodlands of California and Baja California. Its highly erratic movements from year to year make assessment of its population trends very difficult.

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Appearance

Finches
Finches
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Small songbird.
  • Gray back and sides.
  • Yellow patch on chest.
  • Yellow wingbars.
  • Dusky or black face.

Male Description

Black face. Gray nape and mantle. Black wings with broad yellow bars and conspicuous yellow edges on primary feathers. Yellow patch on breast.

Female Description

Gray face. Gray overall, with subtle yellow wing bars, edges of primary feathers, and breast patch.

Immature Description

Similar to adult female, with even less yellow; sometimes appears all brownish gray.

Range Map Help

Lawrence
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Field MarksHelp

  • Male
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    Lawrence's Goldfinch

    Male
    • © Herbert Clarke / CLO
  • Female
    Zoom In

    Lawrence's Goldfinch

    Female
    • © Brian E. Small, June 2000

Similar Species

  • Nonbreeding female American Goldfinch very similar to female Lawrence's, but lacks yellow wingbars and tail is mostly white below and dark with white tips above, rather than black with white near tip.
  • Lesser Goldfinch has white, not yellow wingbars and is generally more yellow.