The European Goldfinch
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| European Goldfinch8,10,11,12 | |
| Carduelis carduelis, 14 subspecies | |
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| True Finch | |
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| Hardiness: | Hardy |
| Reproduction: | May breed readily in captivity |
| Singing ability: | Good and cheerful |
| Compatibility: | Pushy, mixes well with other pushy species
[Compatibility Chart] |
| Size: | 5" (12.7 cm) |
| Approx. cost: | $140 (US) per pair |
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Other common names
British Goldfinch, Eastern Goldfinch, Eurasian Goldfinch, European Goldfinch, Goldfinch, Gray-crowned Goldfinch
Origin
Europe
Area of distribution
Europe, northern Africa, most of Asia.
Disposition
These birds may get along better with their own species than with other species. Because they may become aggressive, they need to be evaluated on an individual pair basis.
Physical descriptions
The European Goldfinch's beak is very pointed, designed for probing into thistle blossoms. The back of head and nape of neck are black; the forehead and throat are red; the cheeks, lower neck, and underside are white; the back is a deep chestnut brown; the wings are black with yellow markings; and the tail is black and white. Several mutations exist, including yellow, pearl, albino, agate, isabell, and pastel.
Sexing
The sexes appear very similar, but the cock may have more red on his head (the red will extend beyond the eye), appear slightly larger overall, and have a more pointed beak than the hen. The hen tends to have browner wings and a browner rump, as well as a more narrow and paler yellow band across the wings. Both sexes sing, although the male's song is fuller.
Song
Song clip (.mp3, .18 MB)
Pictures
If you keep this species and have a photo of your birds to share, please
submit your photo for possible inclusion on this site! Credit will be given to you.
Female European Goldfinch
Male European Goldfinch
Male European Goldfinch
Male European Goldfinch
Female European Goldfinch
Female European Goldfinch
Male European Goldfinch
Male European Goldfinch
Male European Goldfinch
Male European Goldfinch
Juvenile European Goldfinch
Favorite foods
Thistle seed, green food (e.g. dandelion),
insectivorous food, canary seed.
Natural habitat
The grasslands, woodlands, orchards, parks, and gardens of Europe, Central Asia, and North Africa.
Habits
Outside of the breeding season, goldfinches roam in flocks which may contain about 100 birds.
Special considerations
These birds can hybridize with canaries and must be close banded to be offered for sale in Britain and the U.S.
Breeding season
Spring (in Europe).
Breeding tips
These species may breed in either an aviary or a large flight cage, although they seem to prefer well-planted aviaries. They should be housed one pair per enclosure and fed a commercial insectivorous diet and/or
live food while breeding. Provide a secluded canary nest cup for nesting.
Life Cycle
| Clutch size: | 3-7 eggs (3-5 most common) |
| Incubation: | Done by the hen |
| Hatch date: | After 13 days of incubation |
| Fledge date: | At 14 days of age |
Related Article(s)
If you own this species and would like to write an article about your experiences with them for this page, please
submit your article for possible inclusion on this site. Credit will be given to you!
European Goldfinches
- Photos of males, females, chicks, nests, and mutations.