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The European Goldfinch is a small, 12 cm bird with a striking red, white, and black face, a brown back, and black wings with a bright yellow band. They primarily eat seeds, using their pointed bill to access them from plants like thistles and burdocks, but also consume insects and buds. Known for their melodic song and social, flocking behavior, they inhabit open woodlands, parks, gardens, and fields across Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Identification
Adult: Features a bright red face mask, a black and white head, a brown back, and black wings with a vibrant yellow stripe. Males often have a larger red mask.
Juvenile: Has a plain brown head but is identifiable by the bold yellow-and-black wing pattern.
Size: Roughly 12 cm (4.7 inches) long with a wingspan of 21–25 cm (8.3–9.8 inches).
Diet
Primarily feeds on seeds from plants like thistles, sunflowers, and burdocks.
Also eats buds, flowers, and fruits.
Consumes small insects, especially to feed their young during the breeding season.
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Habitat and behavior
Habitat: Prefers open habitats like woodland edges, orchards, parks, gardens, and grasslands with scattered trees. They avoid dense forests and completely treeless areas.
Flocking: Are highly social and often form large flocks, particularly in winter, to feed in weedy fields.
Flight: Flies in an undulating pattern and frequently calls while in flight.
Vocalization: Known for their pleasant, tinkling, and bubbling songs and calls.
Migration: Some populations are migratory, moving south for the winter.
Breeding and lifespan
Breeding: Breeds in April, and can have two or three clutches per year, with each clutch containing 4 to 6 eggs.
Incubation: The hen incubates the eggs for about 12–14 days.
Fledging: The young fledge when they are around 14 days old.
Lifespan: Can live for around 2 years on average in the wild, with the oldest recorded individual living for over 10 years.
