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European Goldfinch
(Carduelis carduelis)
: "Goldfinch", "Gowdie"
 German name(s): "Stieglitz", "Distelfink"
Size: 12-13 cm; wing span 21-25 cm
Weight: 14-19 g
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
European Goldfinches are medium-sized finches. They have a
conspicuous scarlet facial mask from the crown to the throat,
which contrasts with the white sides of the head and black
nape and light-grey bill. The front, from chest to undertail
coverts, is grey, with some brown-tinged areas on the sides
of the chest.
The mantle and upperwing coverts are brownish-grey, while the
flight feathers are black with a prominent yellow bar. The
tail is black.
The irises are dark and the legs and feet are greyish-pink.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See European
Goldfinch at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the
ebird.org
website.
The global distribution of the European Goldfinch is available
HERE
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There are more than 10 races of European Goldfinches. The
races belonging to the "carduelis" group
populate much of Europe, except Scandinavia northward of
southern Sweden but including the British Isles and Ireland,
Asia Minor, parts of the Middle East, eastern Europe,
plus northern Africa (basically the Atlas mountain range).
The races belonging to the "caniceps" group are found in parts
of central Asia to the East and South-east of the Caspian Sea.
There are introduced populations in the North-east of the United
States, in south-eastern Australia and in New Zealand.
In Europe European Goldfinches of the "carduelis" group
are permanent residents anywhere from England, Wales and Ireland
in the West and Denmark and the Baltic states in the North,
southward (only in the highest regions of the Alps they are
breeding migrants). In eastern Europe, beyond a line connecting
the Danube catchment and the Baltic states, and in southern
Scandinavia they are breeding migrants. They are not found
at all in central and northern Scandinavia and in the Scottish
highlands.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "carduelis"
D. Wilczynska reports spotting an European Goldfinch, race "carduelis", along
the river Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, in July 2016.
An European Goldfinch
was caught, ringed and photographed by S. Cuturilov in Ovcarsko-Kablarski
Canyon, near Cacak, Serbia, in October 2017.
M. Thomas reports spotting an European Goldfinch, race "carduelis", in
Eltville, Hessen, Germany, in January 2019.
In the past we have seen European Goldfinches, race "carduelis", regularly
in the Eifel, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, over decades since the 1960ies.
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Photos |
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Race "carduelis"
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ADULT |
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Near-frontal/ventral view of an European Goldfinch
Lateral view of an European Goldfinch (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, July 2016]
Lateral view of an European Goldfinch
Lateral view of an European Goldfinch (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Ovcarsko-Kablarski Canyon, near Cacak, Serbia, October 2017]
Lateral/dorsal view of an European Goldfinch
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]
Two European Goldfinches foraging in tall grass
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Food, Diet |
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| Adults: Seeds, buds |
Dependents: Regurgitated seeds |
Water intake: Regular |
Like all finches known to us, European Goldfinches are primarily seed-eaters.
European Goldfinch taking a sunflower kernel from a bird feeder
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Call/s
