Animalia Life

Carduelis chloris
SUBFAMILY
Carduelinae
TAXONOMY
Carduelis chloris Linnaeus, 1758. Nine subspecies are recognized.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: European greenfinch; French: Verdier d’Europe; German: Grьnling, Grьnfink; Spanish: Verderon Comъn.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Greenfinches are about 5.5 in (14 cm) in body length. They have pink legs and a stout beak. Both sexes are colored overall yellow-brown, with grayish, yellow-edged wings, and black on the tail. Females are duller than males, and juveniles have streaked breasts.
DISTRIBUTION
Greenfinches range widely across Europe and western Asia. They have also been introduced to parts of South America and Australasia, where they persist as wild, non-native songbirds.
HABITAT
Greenfinches inhabit a wide range of forests and woodlands, orchards, parks, gardens, and farmland containing hedgerows.
BEHAVIOR
Greenfinches are migratory birds, breeding in northern parts of their range and spending the winter further to the south. They are social birds, especially during the non-breeding season, and are often found in small flocks. They may also occur in mixed-species flocks with other finches. The territorial song is a nasal, high-pitched call. They also have characteristic, wheezy flight notes.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Greenfinches feed on variety of seeds, including those of trees, shrubs, and herbs. The young are fed partly with insects and spiders, as well as plant matter.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Greenfinches build an unruly nest of sticks lined with feathers. Nests are often grouped together as a loose colony. They typically have two broods each year, with four to five eggs per clutch.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. A widespread and abundant species.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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