Bird Sightings: Goldfinch

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Bird Sightings : Hebrides : Goldfinch

Goldfinch (Male)

Carduelis carduelis
Gaelic:Deargan-froich

Photograph © Frank Stark
Leurbost - Isle of Lewis - Outer Hebrides (Western Isles)
27th October, 2007

"A photograph of a Goldfinch that was in my garden today.
Not rare I suppose, and most folk will already know what one looks like, but there is something interesting in the photo that might be worth passing on.
The bird is eating seeds from Selfheal, ignoring the thistles and Teazel growing close by that these birds are normally assocciated with.
Also, the bird is a male as the red blaze clearly extends behind the eye.
Incidentally, Selfheal is also favoured by the Siskins that have visited my garden."

Our goldfinch photographs:

Male Goldfinch

Goldfinch
AKA: British Goldfinch, Eastern Goldfinch, Eurasian Goldfinch, European Goldfinch, Goldfinch, Gray-crowned Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

WI: very rare breeder, uncommon passage migrant

UK 313 thousand pairs (Summer) BTO
UK Winter: 100,000 birds (RSPB) Many UK goldfinches migrate to Spain

Distribution: Europe, Asia, (Australia & New Zealand introduced)

Habitat: Open country with plenty of seeds: woodland, farmland, villages (bird feeders)

Diet: Small seeds: thistles, daisies, teasels & self-heal (summer some insects) (longish very pointed beaks for seed extraction)

Average age 2yrs, oldest recorded 8yrs 8mths

Finch. Bright red face. Yellow wing patch.
Juveniles: plain head & greyer back but have the yellow wing patch. Sociable, in winter forms flock up to 40 birds. Often breeds in loose colonies.

Listen to a goldfinch (RSPB site)

Similar birds: greenfinch

Latin name is from carduus, thistle

A colourful bird with a pleasant song the goldfinch was and still is a popular caged bird. Via escapes and releases it was introduced to Australia and New Zealand where it now forms vast colonies.

Two or more finches is called a charm.

Other local bird photographs

Frank's web site of his nature photography
www.frankstark.com

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