Finches · Perching birds
European Goldfinch
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Carduelis carduelis
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Voice
Song
Call
Call
How to recognize it
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12–13 cm long
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Adults with a red face, black crown and nape, and white cheeks
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Black wings with a broad yellow bar
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Clear trills and melodic twittering
About the species
Red across the face, black and white over the crown and cheeks, and warm brown across the back, the European Goldfinch has a colorful look even at a distance. A broad yellow stripe cuts across its black wings, while its pale underside and buff flanks soften the contrast. The red mask is smaller on females, though the sexes otherwise look much alike.
It moves between spots in quick flights, calling as it goes. Its song runs through bright trills and twitters, often with a repeated "tellit, tellit, tellit" phrase. A pointed bill helps it pry small seeds from plant heads, even when they are hard to reach.
Look for it in open, partly wooded lowlands, gardens, and leafy groves, especially where thistles or teasels grow. Small seeds make up most of its food, with insects added when it is feeding young; in winter, groups gather at seed feeders. It stays in milder parts of its range, while goldfinches from colder areas move south, and some make shorter journeys when the weather turns bad.
Where to find
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In spring, in large gardens and deciduous groves, listen for bright trills and loud calls as flocks fly from place to place.
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In winter, check garden feeders for small flocks feeding on seed.
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In open patches with thistles, watch for seed-picking from the prickly heads.
