Lawrence’s Goldfinch
Spinus lawrencei
The Lawrence’s Goldfinch breeds from about Shasta County, California to northern Baja California, largely in the Coast Ranges and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and in the Baja highlands, but also sometimes as far down as the coast. Coastal southern California and northern Baja California (Mexico) host these birds year-round. Some of them migrate to lower elevations in winter, while others migrate to southern Arizona and New Mexico.
Beginning in 2007, studies began casting doubts on the validity of the science (or lack thereof) that changed the classification of New World siskins and goldfinches from Spinus to Carduelis. The genus Spinus was introduced in 1816 for the Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus). In 2009, the American Ornithological Union reclassified New World siskins, redpolls, and goldfinches, by reviving the genus Spinus.
Taxonomists regard the Lawrence’s Goldfinch as monotypic (i.e. no subspecies).
More than any other North American goldfinch, Lawrence’s Goldfinches wander in search of seeds. In summer they seek Fiddleneck (Amsinckia sp.), and in winter they switch to Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum). Seed crops from these plants vary from year to year, and these birds wander until they find the abundance they need. I feel fortunate to live in a region where these birds roam, and it is a treat when I find them.
18 Photos
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: Male bird at Agua Dulce Creek, near the Sunrise Highway, South Of Julian, California. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:21 10:13 |
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Location:
Agua Dulce Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X7841-LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: Female at Agua Dulce Creek, near the Sunrise Highway, South Of Julian, California. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:21 10:26 |
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Location:
Agua Dulce Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X7851-LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: Vista Grande site. Images from the SDNHM study of the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto Mountains. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:06:28 16:37 |
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Location:
Vista Grande |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD1283.LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: (Carduelis lawrencei) Captured while studying the post Cedar Fire burn near Boulder Creek Road. In the foothills of San Diego County, California USA 2008-05-09. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:09 12:17 |
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Location:
Pine Grove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD5355LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: (Carduelis lawrencei) This image was captured in High Valley Area of Poway, California (San Diego County) USA 2010-02-13. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:13 9:57 |
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Location:
High Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD6128.LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: (Carduelis lawrencei) Female in the High Valley Area of Poway, California (San Diego County) USA 2010-02-13. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:13 9:57 |
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Location:
High Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD6129.LawrencesGoldFinch.Female |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: (Carduelis lawrencei) This image was captured in High Valley Area of Poway, California (San Diego County) USA 2010-02-13. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:13 10:25 |
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Location:
High Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD6190.LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: (Carduelis lawrencei) This image was derived from an image capture in High Valley Area of Poway, California (San Diego County) USA 2010-02-13. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:13 9:57 |
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Location:
High Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 |
File Name: Cut_JCD6128.LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: (Carduelis lawrencei) Female on Santa Rosa Mountain in southern Riverside County, California USA 2004-08-26. |
Date Taken: 2004:08:26 12:44 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_9478LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:06:11 15:19 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D722531-LawrencesGoldFInch |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:06:10 17:05 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D722045-LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:06:10 16:26 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D721977-LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: Camped with the San Diego Natural History team near Campo California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2017:10:27 8:12 |
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Location:
Clover Flat |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LawrencesGoldFinch_D5X5932-CloverFlats |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: Ramona Grasslands Preserve. Ramona, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:08 8:44 |
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Location:
Ramona Grassland Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X3545-LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: Agua Dulce Creek, near the Sunrise Highway, South Of Julian, California. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:21 10:12 |
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Location:
Agua Dulce Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X7832-LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: Along the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road at the base of the climb over the San Lucia Mountains on the way to Big Sur California. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:17 12:57 |
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Location:
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X1567-LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: Along the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road at the base of the climb over the San Lucia Mountains on the way to Big Sur California. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:17 12:56 |
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Location:
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1564-LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lawrence's Goldfinch(Carduelis lawrencei) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:06:10 16:26 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D721966-LawrencesGoldFinch |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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