Greenfinch

The greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) is one of the commonest resident finches in the British Isles, being absent only from high altitude areas that are devoid of trees and bushes. It is happy to live close to people and is a familiar sight in parks and gardens, orchards and woodland. In winter it is seen more commonly on farmland where it often forms flocks with other finch species.

Appearance and behaviour

The greenfinch, at 14.5 centimetres (5.5 inches) in length, is similar in size to the chaffinch and the bullfinch, but larger than the goldfinch and the siskin, the latter of which is similar in appearance at first glance. It is thickset with a stout bill and short forked tail.

The summer plumage is olive-green above and bright yellow-green below, with greyer colouring on the wings. The females are less highly coloured than the males, with brown and grey colouring predominating over green and yellow. Winter plumage, after the July/August moult, is greyer than that of the summer, although the green and yellow is still very obvious in the male birds. Indeed, it is the flash of yellow seen in flight that is the most distinctive feature of the bird, making some people wonder why it is not called the “yellowfinch”.

Greenfinches have a variety of calls and songs, but most commonly heard is a trill, pitched alternately high and slightly lower.

The food of adult birds is mainly seeds, berries, buds and insects. 

They are frequent visitors to garden bird tables, particularly in winter when seeds are scarce. Despite their preference for open fields in winter, noted above, modern agriculture has reduced the supply of weed seeds that would be their natural food and they are therefore becoming more dependent on the food, such as sunflower seeds, that people can provide.

Breeding

Greenfinches return to their nesting grounds in early April, building nests in hedges, bushes and trees. Building materials consist of twigs and roots, and the nest is lined with feathers and hair. The clutch is between four and six eggs which are incubated by the hen who is fed by the cock during this time. The eggs take up to 14 days to hatch and both parents feed the young, mainly on seeds but with the occasional caterpillar or spider added. The chicks leave the nest at around 14 days but are not fledged at this time so they perch close to the nest for a few more days, being brought food by the parent birds.

It is common for greenfinches to raise two or three broods during the breeding season, which lasts from April to August.

© John Welford