Page 388 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

FINCHES
Order Passeriformes Family Fringillidae Species Carduelis chloris
Greenfinch dark patch between
bill and eye

grey wings, yellow
along edges of stout
flight feathers apple-green pale
plumage
bill
browner than
adult
MALE subtle streaks
on back and
along flanks yellow stripe
IN FLIGHT
JUVENILE
MALE
duller than (SUMMER)
male

yellow sides
to tail
MALE (WINTER) FEMALE
his large, stocky, thick-billed finch breeds in loose groups in
Ttall trees, old hedges, overgrown gardens, and orchards, and
is a frequent garden visitor in winter, either to feeders or to shrubs
with berries.Where common, Greenfinches gather into large
feeding flocks, flying up together in a rush, more like Linnets and FLIGHT: fast, bounding, undulating, with bursts of
sparrows than Chaffinches.Adults are easily identified, but duller quick wingbeats between closed-winged swoops;
juveniles can be more troublesome at times. display flight slower, with stiff, wavy wingbeats.
VOICE Flight call fast, light, tinny
chatter, tit-it-it-it-it, loud, nasal GARDEN VISITOR
The Greenfinch often visits bird-
tzoo-eee, hard jup-jup-jup; fine tables and feeders for sunflower
song series of staccato trills seeds, seed mixes, and peanuts.
of varying pace and
quality, some metallic and
thin, others full, musical,
with droning, buzzy dzweee
intermixed; often in flight chup-chup-chup, chip-ipipip chr’r’r’r’r’r’r, tit-it-it-it-it chup-up.
NESTING Bulky nest of grass and twigs, lined with finer stems, hair, and feathers,
in thick bushes or trees; 4–6 eggs; 1 or 2 broods;April–July.
FEEDING Eats seeds, from trees to short plants, many taken from ground; also feeds
on berries and nuts; visits bird-tables and feeders.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
In all of Europe except Iceland, but
grey head SERIN 32; yellow SISKIN 32; in summer only in extreme north.
yellow 2streaked; forehead see p.387
wingbars yellow rump; of male Does best in open deciduous
see p.389 woods, parks, big gardens of
3 country houses, bushy areas,
orchards, or around farmsteads
dark
tail with tall, dense hedges.
CITRIL FINCH 32; black and yellow Seen in the UK
2 has grey breast; see p.388 wingbars J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 15cm (6in) Wingspan 25–27cm (10–10 1 ⁄2in) Weight 25–32g ( 7 ⁄8 –1 1 ⁄8oz)
Social Flocks Lifespan 2–3 years Status Secure
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