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  • Greenfinch

Greenfinch

Greenfinch (adult)
Greenfinch (adult)
Greenfinch (juvenile)
Greenfinch (juvenile)
  • Scientific name: Chloris chloris
  • Bird family: Finches
  • UK conservation status: Red
  • Protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Greenfinch song

Your browser does not support this audio feature.

Sander Bot, Xeno-canto

Key information

Its twittering, wheezing song and flash of yellow and green as it flies, make this finch a truly colourful character. Nesting in a garden conifer, or feasting on black sunflower seeds, the greenfinch is a regular garden visitor, able to take advantage of food in rural and urban gardens. Although quite sociable, they may squabble among themselves or with other birds at the bird table.

Greenfinch populations declined during the late 1970s and early 1980s but increased dramatically during the 1990s. A recent decline in numbers has been linked to an outbreak of trichomonosis, a parasite-induced disease that prevents the birds from feeding properly. To help stop the spread, make sure to keep your bird feeders clean.

What they eat:

Seeds and insects.

Measurements:

Length:
15cm
Wingspan:
26cm
Weight:
28g

Population:

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.
UK breeding:
1,700,000 pairs

Identifying features:

This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.

Greenfinch (adult)

Greenfinch, male
Feather colour: Black Brown Cream/buff Green Grey White Yellow
Leg colour: Brown Pink
Beak: Black Brown Short Chunky
Natural habitats: Woodland Farmland Urban and suburban

Greenfinch (juvenile)

Greenfinch female
Feather colour: Black Brown Cream/buff Green Grey White Yellow
Leg colour: Brown Pink
Beak: Black Brown Short Chunky
Natural habitats: Woodland Farmland Urban and suburban

Similar birds:

Male siskin
Siskin

Where and when to see them

A common countryside bird found in woods and hedges, but mostly found close to man on farmland and in parks, town and village gardens and orchards. Only absent from upland areas without trees and bushes.

* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  • Resident
  • Passage
  • Summer
  • Winter
Greenfinch distribution map

The greenfinch can be seen all year round

  • jan
  • feb
  • mar
  • apr
  • may
  • jun
  • jul
  • aug
  • sep
  • oct
  • nov
  • dec

Video

Footage of greenfinches feeding.

Footage of greenfinches feeding.

Greenfinch video screenshot
 Mute swan Cygnus olor, cygnet on adult's back seeking shelter, Langford

Save nature, donate now

  • More than 40 million birds have vanished from the UK in 50 years
  • One in ten of our wildlife is critically endangered

Within your lifetime, species such as song thrushes, cuckoos and even hedgehogs could die out altogether. As the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, the RSPB use your donations to restore habitats, protect species and save nature. Give a little today and make a big difference tomorrow. Thank you.

DONATE NOW

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