European Greenfinch

Chloris chloris

Least ConcernCommonSeedsWoodlandCup nestSmall · 26 g

About the European Greenfinch

The European greenfinch or simply the greenfinch is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The European greenfinch is 15 cm (5.9 in) long with a wingspan of 24.5 to 27.5 cm (9.6 to 10.8 in). It is similar in size and shape to a house sparrow, but is mainly green, with yellow in the wings and tail. The female and young birds are duller and have brown tones on the back. The bill is thick and conical. The song contains a lot of trilling and twittering interspersed with wheezes, and the male performs a "butterfly" display flight. Male greenfinches exhibit higher degrees of fluctuating asymmetry. Their bones are more susceptible to disruption during development than those of females.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the European Greenfinch sounds like

Recording: Philippe_Grange · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Philippe_Grange · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Philippe_Grange · CC0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Canada, Mauritania, Kuwait.

When to see it

Peak activity in May · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: European Greenfinch vs Oriental Greenfinch

Learn the European Greenfinch for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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