Convervation status: Green

Latin name

Carduelis carduelis

Family

Finches (Fringillidae)

Overview

A highly coloured finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. Sociable, often breeding in loose colonies, they have a delightful liquid twittering song and call. Their long fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels. Increasingly they are visiting birdtables and feeders. In winter many UK goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain.

Where to see them

Anywhere there are scattered bushes and trees, rough ground with thistles and other seeding plants. Likes orchards, parks, gardens, heathland and commons. Less common in upland areas and most numerous in southern England.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Seeds and insects in summer.

Estimated numbers

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

In the UK

All UK apart from far N and W of Scotland

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Sound: Ruud van Beusekom, Xeno-canto

Print page

Goldfinch - adult

Goldfinch - juvenile

Similar birds

Greenfinch