Species guide
European Goldfinch: how to recognise it
A bird seen on most continents. Learn the marks that make it easy to identify, then practise with real photographs in Lore.
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Photo © Antti Henttonen · CC BY-NC · iNaturalist · all photo credits
- Scientific name
- Carduelis carduelis
- Family
- Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
- Size
- About 12–13 cm
- Habitat
- Gardens, farmland edges and rough grassland
- Found in
- Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, South America and Oceania
The key marks
A red face, a black-and-white head and a bright yellow patch in the dark wing, with a pale pointed bill.
Voice
A liquid, tinkling “tswitt-wit-wit” and twittering song.
Good to know
Its long, thin bill reaches seeds in thistle and teasel heads, so gardens with those plants often attract it.
Where and when
You can expect to find it in gardens, farmland edges and rough grassland. It is especially common in the United Kingdom and Spain. Distribution changes with the seasons and from year to year, so check a recent local observation source before you go looking.