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Field
Guide IDs: BREEDING:
Oak and riparian
woodland, chaparral, pinion/juniper woodland, and
weedy areas near water. ? broods. DISPLAYS:
Courting male
perches near female, extends head and neck, and
sings. NEST:
Dainty cup of
grass, lichen, forb stems, flower heads, hair,
feathers. EGGS:
Pale bluish-white
or white, unmarked. 0.6" (15 mm). DIET:
Variety of native
plant seeds, not as varied as Lesser Goldfinch; few
insects. Fondness for salt, esp when nesting.
Availability of water is important, strongly
affects distribution, esp during
nesting. CONSERVATION:
Winters s to n w
Mexico. Rare cowbird host. NOTES:
Occ semicolonial.
Erratic distribution during breeding season from
year to year. Female incubates for long periods (up
to 97% of time) with little time spent away from
nest. Male feeds female from incubation to few days
after hatching as male continues to supply food to
female for young. Fond of bathing. Forages in
flocks; flocks throughout year occ with other seed
eaters, e.g., Lesser Goldfinch, House Finch, junco,
Lark Sparrow. ESSAYS: Bird
Biology and the Arts;
Mixed-Species
Flocking;
Incubation
Time;
Bathing
and Dusting;
Drinking. REFERENCES:
Bent,
1968. |
