Goldfinch

The goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is one of Europe’s most attractive songbirds. The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is an unrelated species that is not the focus of this article.

Range

The goldfinch is resident throughout the whole of western Europe although absent from the more northerly regions and most of Scandinavia. It has been introduced to other parts of the world, including Australia and New Zealand. It is widespread in Britain and Ireland apart from mountain and moorland areas. Some of the British population winter in France and Spain, with more females doing so than males, and some individuals will migrate in some years but not others.

Habitat

The natural habitat of the goldfinch is lowland deciduous woodland, but it has also become a bird of gardens and parkland, particularly where there are bushes and small trees. It can be seen feeding on open sites such as roadside verges and abandoned industrial premises.

Appearance

The goldfinch is about 12 centimetres (4.5-5 inches) in length, making it slightly smaller than the chaffinch. The upperparts are brown and the underparts and rump are white. The wings are black with a broad bar of golden yellow across the middle which can also be seen when the bird is perching and which gives it its name. The tail is black with white marks. The head has a black crown, white cheeks and red face. The bill is quite long for a finch, being sharply pointed and pale in colour.

Female goldfinches are similar to males in appearance, but are generally duller in their colouring and with less red on the face.

Behaviour and feeding

The goldfinch is a naturally wary bird that is heard more often than seen during the breeding season. However, in recent years goldfinches have learned how to use garden bird feeders, so sightings are more frequent than might have been the case a few years ago.

The goldfinch has a tinkling flight call of “whit-whit-whit” that is heard throughout the year, and a very pleasant song that is full of trills and varied notes.

Goldfinches are mainly seed eaters, their light weight and long bills enabling them to take seeds from plants such as thistle, burdock and ragwort, which are plentiful on rough, uncultivated land. They will also eat insects and invertebrates, especially in summer.

Goldfinches can be seen feeding in groups with finches of other species.

Breeding

The nest is built by the female from moss, grass and small roots, lined with hair, down and feathers. Nests in gardens are often on the branches of fruit trees.

Four to six eggs are laid, these being incubated by the female alone, for up to 15 days, while the male brings food to her. The young are fed by both birds, on aphids and partially digested seeds, including for up to a week after leaving the nest, which happens at about 14 to 17 days after hatching. After fledging the chicks form small flocks that roam the countryside during the winter months.

Two broods in a season are common, and sometimes three.

Conservation

Goldfinches were formerly captured to become caged songbirds, but fortunately this practice is now illegal. Goldfinch numbers are high enough for it to count as a species of “least concern”, although any future agricultural intensification, leading to fewer wild plants being available, could pose a threat.

© John Welford