Greenfinch
The European greenfinch (Chloris chloris) is a small passerine bird widespread throughout Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia. It has also been introduced into Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, and Argentina.
The European greenfinch 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 twitters interspersed with wheezes, and the male has a "butterfly" display flight.
European greenfinches are widespread throughout Europe, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. They are mainly residents, but some northernmost populations migrate further south. Greenfinches inhabit forests, woodland edges, farmland hedges, plantations, gardens with relatively thick vegetation, and parks.
European greenfinches are social and can form large flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixing with other finches and buntings. They are active during the daylight hours spending their time flying and hopping among tree branches in search of food. During the flight they often produce 'djururu' call and make soft 'tsooeet' and a brief 'chup'. Their song contains a lot of trilling twitters interspersed with wheezes.
European greenfiches are herbivores (granivores). They feed largely on seeds but also take berries, buds, and insects when nesting.
European greenfinches breed in spring, starting in the second half of March and until June. Males perform their "butterfly" display flights and sing in order to attract females. Pairs nest in trees or bushes, laying 3 to 6 eggs. Incubation lasts about 13-14 days, by the female. The male feeds her at the nest during this period. Chicks are covered with thick, long, greyish-white down at hatching. They are fed on insect larvae by both parents during the first days, and later, by a frequently regurgitated yellowish paste made of seeds. They leave the nest about 13 days later, but they are not able to fly. Usually, the chicks fledge 16-18 days after hatching. Each pair typically raises two or three broods per year.
European greenfinches are not globally threatened; however, they suffer from changes in agriculture practices and are often trapped in some parts of their range.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the European greenfinch is 48,000,000-74,000,000 mature individuals. In Europe, the breeding population consists of 21,600,000-33,100,000 pairs, which equates to 43,200,000-66,100,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.