European Greenfinch Fact Sheet

A widespread, brightly colored finch, the European greenfinch is known throughout the continent and is familiar to many birders, though it goes by many names and can be confusing to identify because of plumage variations.

Common Name: European Greenfinch, Greenfinch, Greenie, Green Linnet, Wild Canary, Western Greenfinch, Common Greenfinch

Scientific Name: Carduelis chloris (occasionally classified as Chloris chloris)


Scientific Family: Fringillidae

Appearance:

• Bill: Thick, conical, pale ivory color with a slightly darker tip
• Size: 6.5-7 inches long with 11-inch wingspan, stout build, forked tail, short, rounded wings
• Colors: Green, yellow, black, brown, gray, white, pink
• Markings: Dimorphic species. Males are overall olive yellow-green with brighter yellow on the face, throat and abdomen. The auriculars are gray, and a gray collar may also be seen, as well as gray on the crown. A bright yellow patch shows on the black wings, and the rump is yellow as well. The tail is black with bright yellow on the sides, color that shows well in flight along with the yellow wing patch. A faint white edge may show on the edge of the wing feathers, though this may wear off on worn plumage. The undertail coverts are white. Females are similar but less colorful, more brownish or grayish overall with faint blurry streaking. A green-yellow wash is visible on the abdomen. On both genders, the lores are dark, and the legs and feet are pale pink.
  
  Juveniles are similar to adult females but paler below and more heavily streaked overall.
  
  Different geographic populations show different color intensities, particularly on adult male greenfinches. Some subspecies are more brownish, but all have the bright yellow markings.

Foods: Seeds, berries, insects, buds (See: Granivorous)

Habitat and Migration:

These large finches prefer woodland habitats, particularly somewhat open woodlands such as orchards, woodland edges, parks and gardens. They are also found in weedy fields and brushy agricultural areas where there are abundant seeds.

European greenfinches are found year-round from Great Britain and southern Scandinavia to northwestern Africa, Turkey and western Russia. During the summer breeding season, these birds extend their range further north throughout Scandinavia, the Baltic states and more extensively in Russia, while in winter, they are found slightly more south and east of their typical range, particularly along coastal northeastern Africa.

These birds have been introduced to southeastern Australia and throughout New Zealand, where they are well established, so well that they may occasionally be considered pests. Because greenfinches are also popular pet birds in many areas, escaped birds may be seen in unusual locations well outside their expected range.

Vocalizations:

These are relatively vocal birds that have a range of calls and songs, including clear warbles and buzzy trills with a rapid cadence, as well as raspy, ascending whistles. The typical call is a quick warbling series.

Behavior:

These finches can be wary and shy, but males may be more aggressive during the breeding season, particularly against other males, and may even fight one another. Both genders can be aggressive at the feeders, but in winter, they will join mixed flocks with other finches and buntings. While foraging, these are agile birds for their size, and can be acrobatic to extract seeds.

Reproduction:

Greenfinches are monogamous birds that mate after courtship displays where males fly slow circles around females while singing to attract their attention. The female builds the nest, a bulky cup typically placed 10-15 feet above the ground, constructed of twigs, rootlets, grass and moss, and lined with softer materials such as feathers, hair or fur. The eggs range from whitish to light beige in color with dark reddish or purplish markings, and have a glossy surface. There are 3-6 eggs in each brood, and a mated pair may raise 2-3 broods each year.

The female incubates the eggs for 13-15 days, during which time the male will bring her food on the nest. After the altricial young hatch, both parents feed the hatchlings for 13-14 days until they leave the nest, then continue to guide the young birds for several more days until they can forage independently.

Greenfinches occasionally hybridize with other finch species, and in captivity they are often crossbred with different birds to produce more unusual offspring or color variations.

Attracting European Greenfinches:

These large finches will visit feeding stations in backyards and gardens, particularly where sunflower seeds and peanuts are offered on platform feeders or ground-feeding areas, though they will also visit smaller feeders. Planting seed-bearing flowers for birds can provide a natural food source for greenfinches. These birds are more common in backyards in winter when other natural foods may be scarce.

Conservation:

These birds are not considered threatened or endangered, and in fact they are occasionally considered agricultural pests, particularly for rapeseed crops, which they may pilfer. They are still a protected species in many areas, however, and farmers should use non-aggressive tactics to protect their crops.

Similar Birds:

• Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus)
• Citril Finch (Carduelis citronella)
• Corsican Finch (Carduelis Corsicana)
• Syrian Serin (Serinus syriacus)
• Oriental Greenfinch (Carduelis sinica)
• Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)

Photo – European Greenfinch – Male © Kev Chapman
Photo – European Greenfinch – Female © Stefan Berndtsson