Goldfinch: females, song & nest building

What do goldfinches eat? When is the goldfinch breeding season? In our profile you will find everything you should know about the goldfinch.

We can probably all think of something better than sitting on a scratchy thistle and looking for its seeds - not so the goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis). With its long, pointed beak, it has conquered a food niche and has specialized in the seeds of composite plants, such as burdocks or thistles. Because of this special preference, the goldfinch, which belongs to the finch family, is also nicknamed the "golden finch". In accordance with this food source, the goldfinch prefers open cultivated landscapes with wild ones Fields and meadows as a habitat, resulting from the increasing intensification of these structures are at risk. To draw attention to this loss, the Goldfinch was named “Bird of the Year” in 2016 – as a flagship for all the types of a structured and lively landscape benefit. You can find more information about our colourful, native songbird here in our large goldfinch profile.

Goldfinch: profile

size	About 12cm
Weight	About 15g
breeding season	May - August
lifespan	About 5 years
habitat	Open cultural landscapes, parks and gardens
feed preference	daisy and tree seeds, occasionally insects
threats	Habitat loss due to intensification of cultural landscapes

How to recognize the goldfinch

The goldfinch is definitely one of our most conspicuous garden visitors. He is often in the company of several conspecifics and can rarely behave quietly. His plain brown back and white belly contrast with his black and white marked head, the scarlet face and the bright yellow bandage on the black and white ones wings. Because of this dazzling appearance, the goldfinch became popular in the 19th century. Century also often kept as a cage bird, which is of course strictly forbidden today.

How does the goldfinch song sound?

Goldfinches or goldfinches have a very lively and almost excited song, which is made up of hectic whistles and trilling verses. Also very characteristic are the calls that are built into the singing or sound individually - der The goldfinch is one of the few birds that calls its own name: "Goldfinch-stieglitt-stieglitt".

You can find out what the Stieglitz singing sounds like here:

How do you recognize the young goldfinch?

Young goldfinches are not quite as conspicuous as the adult birds because they lack the typical black, white and red head markings. However, the young birds can be easily identified based on their long, pointed finch beak, the black and white wing covers and the intensively yellow wing bar.

How do you recognize your eggs?

The female goldfinch lays four to six pale blue eggs that are about 2 centimeters in size and are covered in reddish-brown spots. The nest itself is made of stalks and fine stalks and is carefully lined with feathers and the soft hairs of the thistles.

How do you distinguish goldfinch females and males?

At first glance, goldfinch females and males do not differ much. On closer inspection, however, the males appear to be a little more colorful. In the female goldfinches, the yellow and black of the wings are somewhat duller, and the red complexion is dimmer and less extensive: while the red extends behind the eye in males, it only reaches about the front half of the eye in females eyes

Which habitat does the goldfinch prefer?

The goldfinch prefers open but structured habitats such as fields and meadows with smaller hedges and trees. Important are always "wild" areas with perennials, shrubs and other seed-bearing plants that serve as a source of food. He also feels at home in parks and wild gardens.

Where does the goldfinch build its nest?

The goldfinch builds its nest in trees and higher hedges or bushes. This is constructed in the shape of a bowl and camouflaged with lichen on the outside. The female takes over the task of building the nest.

When is the goldfinch breeding season?

Goldfinches breed from May to August. During this time they can raise between one and three broods. The females incubate each clutch for about 14 days and are provided with food by the males in the meantime. After hatching, the male continues to bring food, mainly in the form of seeds, which the female softens in her crop and then gives to the young birds to eat. Young goldfinches leave the nest after about two weeks and then search for food in small groups.

What does the goldfinch do in winter?

Just like in summer, goldfinches are social birds in winter. They are considered sedentary birds in Germany and can therefore be found in their breeding areas all year round. They often travel in smaller or larger groups, accompanied by serins or greenfinch search for food. The colorful contemporaries can also often be seen at feeding stations in winter and offer a wonderful incentive for their striking appearance bird watching – also for the untrained eye and the bird novice.

This is how you can support goldfinches

Due to the progressive decline in its natural habitat, the goldfinch is increasingly dependent on man-made habitats such as parks and gardens. However, since these are often insufficiently equipped with food and nesting opportunities, you will find useful tips here with which you can support the goldfinch in your own garden.

What do goldfinches eat?

Goldfinches feed mainly on the seeds of various daisy family plants. But they also use tree seeds or insects as food - the latter especially as a food supplement for rearing the young animals. If you want to offer the colorful garden birds additional food in winter, you should also use seeds such as linseed or thistle seed.

But sunflower seeds and broken peanuts are also suitable as winter food. Our plants Sunflower seeds for wild birds for example, can easily be offered in a feed silo or in a bird feeder both in the garden and on the balcony. The peeled, energy-rich kernels with extra vitamins, honey and iodine help goldfinches and many other wild birds through the winter.

Which nest boxes are suitable for goldfinches?

In fact, goldfinches rarely nest in nest boxes. If you still want to try your luck, you should reach for a semi-hollow box. In contrast to a normal cave box, this does not have a small entrance hole, but a larger opening, which is preferred by species that actually build their nests outdoors. What the goldfinch is even more happy about are natural nesting opportunities in the form of hedges and shrubs.

How can you give extra support to the goldfinch?

Another way to encourage the goldfinch in your own garden is through a large dose of structure and wilderness. So why not just leave the annoying "weeds" behind or tolerate a thistle? You could be rewarded with a colorful garden visitor! In order to be able to digest the grains properly, plenty of water is also important for the goldfinch. In summer you can support the little birds with a bird bath.

Tip: A simple trivet or bowl can also be used as a bird bath. It is only important that the container is placed out of the reach of cats and cleaned regularly.

The targeted selection of certain plants can also be used Make the garden bird friendly. Hedges and shrubs offer nesting opportunities for many garden birds and a wild meadow with native flowering plants provides a rich supply of food. With our Plantura beneficial insect magnet create a true paradise for insects and other small animals that will not only liven up your garden, but also attract many feathered visitors.

If your interest in the small garden birds has been aroused, then take a look at our species portraits wren, nuthatch or robin stop by and get to know other native species.