For details point at or click the
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Carduelidae
BTO Codes:
GO , GOLDF
EURING No:
16530
Number in Britain:
299 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
View video clips from
IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Migrant/Resident Breeder
Subspecies:
brittanica recorded in Britain (of 14 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
12 cm
Wingspan:
24 cm
Weight:
M/F: 17 g
Scientific name from:
L.: carduelis =the goldfinch
World Distribution:
Eurasia, INTRODUCED: se Australia
Habitat:
Woodland, farmland, open country
Diet:
Small seeds esp daisies (Asteraceae) often half-ripe, some invertebrates in summer
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
299 thousand territories
in 2000
First Record:
8th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Villages
Also common in:
Reedbed
And found in:
Pasture Farmland, Towns
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
11 to 27 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(III), Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
17 x 13 mm
Egg Weight:
1.5 g (of which 5 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
59
(more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size:
5 eggs
4.81 ± 0.66 (2 - 7) N = 659
Incubation:
13 - 15 days
13.55 ± 1.99 (10 - 18) N = 659
by the:
Female
Fledging:
14 - 17 days
15.08 ± 2.12 (11 - 19) N = 1073
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
25 May (26 Apr - 19 Jul)
Number of Broods:
2(3)
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
6331
Adult Survival:
0.371
Juvenile Survival:
0.337 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
2
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
8yr8m
(Germany: 11yr 9m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
A
Wing Length
Adult:
78.3 ± 4.9
Range
75 - 82 mm, N =28543
Juvenile:
78.0 ± 2.3
75 - 82 mm, N =9027
Male:
79.3 ± 5.9
76 - 82 mm, N =16530
Female:
76.7 ± 1.9
74 - 80 mm, N =10240
Weight
Adult:
15.80 ± 1.24
Range
14.00 - 18.00 g , N =22144
Juvenile:
15.59 ± 1.24
13.70 - 17.80 g , N =7273
Male:
16.12 ± 1.18
14.30 - 18.10 g , N =12823
Female:
15.30 ± 1.16 .
13.60 - 17.30 g , N =7930
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
European Goldfinch
Gaelic:
Deargan-fraoich
Welsh:
Nico
Danish:
Stillits
Dutch:
Putter
Finnish:
Tikli
French:
Chardonneret
German:
Stieglitz
Hungarian:
Tengelic
Icelandic:
Žistilfinka
Irish:
Lasair Choille
Italian:
Cardellino
Norwegian:
Stillits
Polish:
Szczygiel
Portuguese:
Pintassilgo
Spanish:
Jilguero
Swedish:
Steglits
Local Names: Redhead
Collective Noun: Charm
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Newton, I. 1972 The finches Collins, London
[598.982 NEW]
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
© British Trust for Ornithology, | Privacy Statement
button; for sources point at the 
button
Other Names
