Bird of the Week KW48 - The Greenfinch

Most greenfinches are so-called "resident birds." This means they remain in their native habitat, which extends throughout Europe, year-round. Only a few populations from northern Europe make the journey to southern and western Europe.

Body measurements:

The “greenfinch”, as the greenfinch is also called, can reach a body length of up to 16 cm and is therefore about the size of a house sparrow. 

Look:

Anyone who has seen him knows exactly why he has this name.

The green plumage and the bird's origins in the finch family are to blame. As with the chaffinch, the male greenfinch also benefits from the striking green color of its plumage. Females, on the other hand, are dressed in less striking shades of brown.

Nutrition:

Greenfinches feed on all kinds of seeds and berries whenever possible. Insects are also a popular food. Young birds, in particular, are fed insects and insect larvae.

Brood:

Greenfinches breed between the end of March and June/July. Depending on location and climate, they breed once or twice. Nests are preferably built in open deciduous and mixed forests. Since greenfinches are anything but shy, they also readily use gardens and habitats close to humans. In both greenfinches and chaffinches, females are responsible for nest building. The nestlings remain in the nest for about two to three weeks after hatching before learning to fly independently. After another month of parental leave, the young birds become independent and can fend for themselves.

Life expectancy:

Greenfinches, like their relatives, the chaffinches, reach an average age of 5 years. However, there are also significantly older specimens.

Danger:

With an estimated 1.7 to 2.6 million pairs in Germany, the greenfinch is not considered an endangered bird species. It is the 13th most common breeding bird in Europe.

Tip for feeding in winter:

Greenfinches love all kinds of seeds, and oatmeal, chopped peanuts, and sunflower seeds are especially good for keeping them happy. Greenfinches often dominate the bird feeder and can sometimes be a bit loud and rowdy. You can easily avoid this by placing two feeders in different locations to spread out the crowd.

Why not try our energy mix or sunflower seeds ?