Lawrence's Goldfinch
Carduelis lawrencei
DescriptionI consider this to be the most beautiful of the three goldfinches. The mix of gray, black and yellow on the male is fantastic. The Lawrence's Goldfinch is named after George Lawrence, a New York businessman and ornithologist. The bird was given this name by John Cassin in 1850. This goldfinch feeds on seeds and insects. And it is currently emptying my thistle feeder every couple of days.
General: 4 to 5 inches in length.
Male: Gray head, back, sides, belly and undertail coverts. Black face patch extending from below the bill, around the eye, and up to the crown. Short, conical bill. Yellow breast, lower back, and rump. Black wings with yellow bars and primary feather edges. Short, forked tail.
Female: Overall gray plumage. Subtle yellow wash on breast. Short, conical bill. Black wings with subtle yellow bars and primary edges. Short, forked tail.
Immature: Similar to female.
Open woodlands, chaparral, and weedy fields.
Nesting3-6 pale white or very pale blue eggs. The eggs have an 11-13 day incubation period. Fledging occurs in ? days. The nest is an open cup made from leaves, grass stems, and lichen when available.
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