Goldfinch( Carduelis carduelis)

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AKA: European goldfinch

What does the Goldfinch look like ?

A oloured finch with a bright red face and gleaming yellow wing patch/bar. Sociable, often breeding in loose colonies, they have a delightful liquid twittering song and call. The young are grey brown lacking grey on head Long fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels. Increasingly they are visiting birdtables and feeders. In winter many UK goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain.

How big Is It ?

Aprox 12 cm . weighing 16 g

 

Where does it live?

Breeding
Likes trees and bushes with areas of tall weeds nearby. Often breeds near man in parks, gardens, nurseries, orchards and churchyards. In wider countryside likes woodland edges and heaths and commons with gorse and hawthorn.
Wintering
Similar to breeding habitat, but forms into flocks which may range over waste land, coastal fields and flats, and rough pasture. Anywhere with plenty of thistles, burdock and teasels.

When does it Breed ?

May to August, 4 - 6 Eggs , Incubation 13 days, Young Fledge in 13 - 15 Days, Nests in trees

Where to see it

Anywhere there are scattered bushes and trees, rough ground with thistles and other seeding plants. Likes orchards, parks, gardens, heathland and commons. Less common in upland areas and most numerous in southern England.

What does it eat?

Thitle Dandilions , Tree Seeds and insects such as aphids in summer.

What does it sound like?

A liquid, twittering song with trills; twittering calls

To hear a Goldfinch click here

When to see it

All year round.
Similar species
Greenfinch