Lawrence's Goldfinch Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
American Goldfinch
Breeding male
Breeding male American Goldfinches have bright yellow backs and cheeks, whereas Lawrence's Goldfinches have gray backs and cheeks.
© David Carr | Macaulay LibraryWest Virginia, April 30, 2017Similar Species
American Goldfinch
Breeding female
Breeding female American Goldfinches are more yellow overall than the gray-bodied Lawerence's Goldfinches.
© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 25, 2016Similar Species
American Goldfinch
Nonbreeding male
Nonbreeding males are browner overall than the gray-bodied Lawrence's Goldfinch.
© Matt Davis | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 08, 2016Similar Species
Lesser Goldfinch
Adult male
Adult male Lesser Goldfinches have an entire black crown unlike the partial black crown seen on adult male Lawrence's Goldfinches. They also lack Lawrence's Goldfinch's yellow wing markings.
© Eric Gofreed | Macaulay LibraryArizona, April 26, 2017Similar Species
Lesser Goldfinch
Female/immature
Female/immature Lesser Goldfinches are yellow-olive overall, whereas Lawrence's Goldfinches are mostly gray.
© Arlene Ripley | Macaulay LibraryArizona, June 25, 2017Main Species
Lawrence's Goldfinch
Female
Females are grayish brown with a faint yellow wash on the belly.
© Sean Fitzgerald | Macaulay LibraryArizona, October 18, 2018Male
Found in open woodlands, chaparral, and brushy areas.
© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 24, 2013Male
Males are gray with a black face, yellow belly patch, and yellow wing patches. Tends to be nomadic outside of the breeding season.
© Will Knowlton | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 02, 2020Male and female
Note yellow wing edging on both the male and female. This video has no audio.
© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 24, 2013Female
Females are grayish overall with yellow wing bars. Note typical forked tail and pointed bill of finches.
© Chezy Yusuf | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 13, 2017Female
Makes erratic movements during the nonbreeding season.
© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 24, 2013Male
Small finch with a pointed bill and forked tail. Males have a black face and a bright yellow belly patch.
© Aaron Boone | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 27, 2020Male
From the side, males appear gray overall with yellow wing patches and a black face.
© Will Knowlton | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 01, 2020Male
Perches on small stems to pick at seeds, often bending its body to reach seeds on the plant its perched on or a neighboring plant. This video has no audio.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryArizona, February 01, 1997Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Fringillidae)
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