Lesser Goldfinch or Lawrence’s Goldfinch ?

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

There's more to learn about Lesser Goldfinch

Lawrence’s Goldfinch

Spinus lawrencei

How to recognise a Lawrence's goldfinch?

General appearance

The Lawrence's goldfinch is a small songbird with a distinctive appearance, featuring gray body plumage and bright yellow highlights on the wings, chest, and rump. Black is present on the forehead and throat, enhancing its distinctive look. The wings and tail display a black and white pattern, adding to the contrast in its appearance.

Male vs female

Males are more brightly colored, with vivid yellow on the chest and flanks, and they have a more pronounced black face mask. Females are similar but have duller coloration, less yellow on the underparts, and a reduced or absent black facial mask, leading to a more subdued overall appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile Lawrence's goldfinches are generally drabber compared to the adults, predominantly gray-brown, lacking the vivid yellow and black markings. They may still exhibit some yellow on the wings but are generally less colorful, which aids in camouflage. As they mature, their coloring gradually intensifies.

Size

3.9 - 4.7 in/0.3 - 0.5 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Lawrence’s goldfinch occupies a range of habitats, often close to water. These include oak and pine woods, chaparral, pinyon-juniper woods, and streamside trees.

Additional range

In migration and winter, it frequents weedy fields, farmlands, brushy areas, and streamsides. Despite its preference for water proximity, it often settles in fairly dry conditions.

Range Map

What do Lawrence’s goldfinches like to eat?

Natural diet

The Lawrence's goldfinch primarily feeds on the seeds of native weeds and plants, including fiddleneck, peppergrass, and chamise. It also consumes plant galls, buds, and a limited amount of insects. Additionally, this bird is known to feed on salt.

Bird feeders

Lawrence's goldfinch may be attracted to bird feeders offering seeds, especially those with a mix that includes small seeds similar to those found in their natural diet.

What does a Lawrence's goldfinch sound like?

The Lawrence's goldfinch displays a complex vocal repertoire. Its song is characterized by a hurried mix of mellow and scratchy notes, often mimicking its own as well as other species' calls. Additionally, its flight note, usually indicating its high presence overhead, is a high tinkle, with the first note higher. Its call pattern encompasses a mix of falling and rising sounds, with its call types including chatter, chirp, chip, trill, and whistle.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

There's more to learn about Lawrence’s Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch

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Lawrence’s Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

General appearance

The lesser goldfinch is a small songbird, about 4.5 inches long, with a wingspan of approximately 8 inches. It has a short, conical bill ideal for seed eating. Its tail is notched and relatively short. The species is notable for its bright yellow underparts, contrasting with black or olive-green upperparts. The wings and tail are dark with white wing bars and edges, giving it a distinctive appearance in flight.

Male vs female

Male lesser goldfinches typically display a glossy black cap and upper back. Regionally, their back can also appear olive-green. Females are generally more subdued, with olive-green upperparts and a less distinct cap. Both genders share the yellow underparts, but females have duller shades. During the breeding season, males are brighter with clearer contrast, while females remain consistent year-round.

Juvenile

Juvenile lesser goldfinches resemble adult females, displaying olive-green upperparts and yellowish underparts but with more muted overall tones. They lack the distinct black cap found in adult males. As they mature, male juveniles develop the characteristic coloration and markings of adult males, while females retain their more subdued appearance.

Size

3.5 - 4.3 in/0.3 - 0.4 oz

There's more to learn about Lesser Goldfinch

Lawrence’s Goldfinch

Spinus lawrencei

General appearance

The Lawrence's goldfinch is a small songbird with a distinctive appearance, featuring gray body plumage and bright yellow highlights on the wings, chest, and rump. Black is present on the forehead and throat, enhancing its distinctive look. The wings and tail display a black and white pattern, adding to the contrast in its appearance.

Male vs female

Males are more brightly colored, with vivid yellow on the chest and flanks, and they have a more pronounced black face mask. Females are similar but have duller coloration, less yellow on the underparts, and a reduced or absent black facial mask, leading to a more subdued overall appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile Lawrence's goldfinches are generally drabber compared to the adults, predominantly gray-brown, lacking the vivid yellow and black markings. They may still exhibit some yellow on the wings but are generally less colorful, which aids in camouflage. As they mature, their coloring gradually intensifies.

Size

3.9 - 4.7 in/0.3 - 0.5 oz

There's more to learn about Lawrence’s Goldfinch

How to tell the Lesser Goldfinch from the Lawrence’s Goldfinch

Visual differences

The Lesser Goldfinch is about 4.5 inches long with bright yellow underparts and black or olive-green upperparts, small with a short, notched tail, and a conical bill. Males have a black cap, while females are more olive. Lawrence's Goldfinch is slightly larger, 4.7 inches long, with gray-bodied plumage, bright yellow on wings and chest, and a black forehead and throat, displaying a more vivid contrast, especially in males. The distinctive yellow and black patterns in Lawrence's Goldfinch make it visually distinct from the more uniformly colored Lesser Goldfinch.

Key differences and behavior

The Lesser Goldfinch and Lawrence's Goldfinch exhibit distinct behavioral differences. Lesser Goldfinches are more adaptable, often visiting feeders and consuming a variety of seeds, while Lawrence's Goldfinches are nomadic, migrating based on food and water availability. Preferred habitats vary; Lesser Goldfinches favor semi-open areas with proximity to water, whereas Lawrence's Goldfinches inhabit oak and pine woods, migrating to weedy fields in winter. Breeding behaviors also differ: Lesser Goldfinch males perform display flights during courtship, and females build nests solo. In contrast, Lawrence's Goldfinch males follow the female closely and may assist in nest construction. Both species feed on seeds, but Lesser Goldfinches favor daisy family seeds, while Lawrence's Goldfinches prefer weeds like fiddleneck. Notably, Lawrence's Goldfinches are often bullied by Lesser Goldfinches despite their slightly larger size (4-5 inches vs. 4.5 inches) and weight (0.3-0.4 oz vs. 0.28-0.4 oz).

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