European goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis · The European goldfinch is a small finch with a red face and yellow-barred black wings, native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia.

Also called Eurasian goldfinch.

European goldfinch
Photo: © Francis C. Franklin / CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0
European goldfinch
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0
European goldfinch
Photo: Pierre Dalous, CC BY-SA 3.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyFringillidae
GenusCarduelis
SpeciesCarduelis carduelis

Where it lives

Open woodland and gardens from Ireland to Central Asia, south to North Africa.

Fun facts

  • The female builds the whole nest by herself, usually finishing it within a week, while the male just keeps her company.
  • Goldfinch nests are held to the tree twigs with spider silk and lined with soft plant down, such as from thistles.
  • One goldfinch in Armenia ate 30 seeds from a sunflower head in a single hour.
  • Goldfinches use their tweezerlike bills like tools to pull out seeds that are hard to reach in plants.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).