European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Scientific name definitions
Revision Notes
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Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Albanian | Gardalina |
Arabic | حسون أوروبي |
Armenian | Կարմրակատար |
Asturian | Xilgueru européu |
Azerbaijani | Qanqal hörücüsü |
Basque | Kardantxiloa |
Bulgarian | Щиглец |
Catalan | cadernera europea |
Chinese (Hong Kong SAR China) | 紅額金翅雀 |
Chinese (SIM) | 欧红额金翅雀 |
Croatian | češljugar |
Czech | stehlík obecný |
Danish | Stillits |
Dutch | Putter |
English | European Goldfinch |
English (India) | Western Goldfinch |
English (United States) | European Goldfinch |
Faroese | Vanligur fagurígða |
Finnish | tikli |
French | Chardonneret élégant |
French (Canada) | Chardonneret élégant |
Galician | Xílgaro europeo |
German | Stieglitz |
Greek | Καρδερίνα |
Hebrew | חוחית |
Hungarian | Tengelic |
Icelandic | Þistilfinka |
Italian | Cardellino |
Japanese | ゴシキヒワ |
Latvian | Dadzītis |
Lithuanian | Dagilis |
Maori | Kōurarini | European Goldfinch |
Mongolian | Бор бужирга |
Nepali (Nepal) | रक्तमुहार पीतचरी |
Norwegian | stillits |
Persian | سهره طلایی |
Polish | szczygieł |
Portuguese (Brazil) | pintassilgo-europeu |
Portuguese (Portugal) | Pintassilgo |
Romanian | Sticlete |
Russian | Щегол |
Serbian | Češljugar |
Slovak | stehlík obyčajný |
Slovenian | Lišček |
Spanish | Jilguero Europeo |
Spanish (Argentina) | Cardelino |
Spanish (Ecuador) | Cardelino |
Spanish (Spain) | Jilguero europeo |
Spanish (Uruguay) | Cardelino |
Swedish | steglits |
Turkish | Saka |
Ukrainian | Щиглик звичайний |
Revision Notes
Peter Pyle contributed to the Plumages, Molts, and Structure page. Guy M. Kirwan and Shawn M. Billerman contributed to the Systematics page. Peter F. D. Boesman contributed to the Sounds and Vocal Behaviors page. Nicholas D. Sly standardized the content with Clements taxonomy.
Carduelis carduelis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Definitions
- CARDUELIS
- carduelis
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Introduction
The European Goldfinch is a common species over much of the western and central Palearctic, where it occurs from Europe and North Africa east as far as western and Central Asia. It is much coveted as a cagebird in parts of the species’ range, and partially as a consequence of this it has been introduced (or escaped) and formed feral populations in the USA, Bermuda, Uruguay, Argentina, the Azores, Cape Verde, southeast Australia, and New Zealand. Overall, this Carduelis is not a species of conservation concern globally; however, illegal trapping for the bird trade has decimated populations in parts of North Africa, and has negatively affected the species elsewhere too.
Populations in the north of its range, or in montane regions, are typically migratory, whilst those found further south and at lower elevations are more likely to be resident. Its colorful plumage, which includes a dark red mask and a striking gold wingbar, is unmistakable throughout the species’ distribution. The male and female differ little; however, juveniles look quite different from the adults with a pale buffish-brown head lacking the striking the red mask.
The European Goldfinch occupies a wide breadth of habitats, but is usually absent from both forest interiors and entirely treeless areas. It feeds on seeds that usually are taken directly from the flower or from the seed heads, but the species also can be seen foraging on the ground.
Typically gregarious, the species is usually found in monospecific flocks outside the breeding season. However, European Goldfinch may also form mixed-species flocks with other finches and can be found foraging in trees along with Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) and Redpoll (Acanthis flammea), or on the ground with European Serin (Serinus serinus), Eurasian Linnet (Linaria cannabina), and European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris).
- Year-round
- Migration
- Breeding
- Non-Breeding