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24

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) Alternate name(s): "Goldfinch", "Gowdie" German name(s): "Stieglitz", "Distelfink" Size: 12-13 cm; wing span 21-25 cm Weight: 14-19 g

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Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description 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.

Taxonomy, classification See European Goldfinch at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species 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 . 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.

Sightings 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, and again in March 2019. An European Goldfinch, race "carduelis", 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.

Photos

Race "carduelis"

ADULT

Sex unknown

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 (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2019]

Lateral view of an European Goldfinch (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2019]

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

Food, Diet

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]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

goldfin_dw_20190417.m4a

(Ctl Poland)

Territorial calls(?)

© DW

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.

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