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 all probably 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". Corresponding to this food source, the goldfinch prefers open cultural landscapes with wild fields and meadows as a habitat, which are endangered by the increasing intensification of these structures. To draw attention to this loss, the goldfinch was named "Bird of the Year" in 2016 - as a flagship for all species that benefit from a structured and lively landscape. You can find more information about our colourful, native songbird here in our large goldfinch profile.
Goldfinch: Profile
| Size | About 12 cm |
| Weight | About 15g |
| Incubation | May - August |
| Lifetime | About 5 years |
| Habitat | Open cultural landscapes, parks and gardens |
| Food Preference | Daisy and tree seeds, occasionally insects |
| Threats | Habitat loss through 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. Its plain brown back and white belly contrast with its black and white marked head, scarlet face and bright yellow band on the black and white wings. Because of this dazzling appearance, theGoldfinch was also often kept as a cage bird in the 19th century, which is of course strictly forbidden today.
What does the goldfinch song sound like?
Goldfinches or Goldfinches have a very lively and almost excited song, which is made up of hectic whistles and trilling verses. The calls that are built into the song or sound individually are also very characteristic - the goldfinch is one of the few birds that call their own name: "Stieglitt-stieglitt-stieglitt".
You can find out what the goldfinch song sounds like here:
How to recognize the baby 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 are easily identifiable based on their long, pointed finch beak, black and white wing covers and intense yellow wing bands.
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 from stalks and fine stalks and is carefully padded with feathers and the soft hairs of the thistles.
How do you tell the difference between male and female goldfinches?
At first glance, female and male goldfinches 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.
What habitat does the goldfinch prefer?
The goldfinch prefers open but structured habitats such as fields and meadows with small 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 gardenshome.
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 builds the nest.
When does the goldfinch breed?
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 forage in small groups.
What does the goldfinch do in winter?
Just like in summer, goldfinches are social birds in winter too. They are considered resident birds in Germany and can therefore be found in their breeding areas all year round. They often travel in smaller or larger groups, which search for food accompanied by serins or greenfinches. The colorful contemporaries can also often be seen at feeding stations in winter and, thanks to their eye-catching appearance, offer a wonderful incentive for bird watching - even for the untrained eye and the bird novice.
How to 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 not adequately equipped with food and nesting facilities, 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 Plantura 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 the goldfinches and many otherswild 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 happier about is natural nesting opportunities in the form of hedges and shrubs.
How can you support 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.
A garden can also be made bird-friendly by carefully selecting certain plants. 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, you create a real paradise for insects and other small animals that not only liven up your garden, but also attract many feathered visitors.
If you are interested in the small garden birds, then take a look at our species portraits of wren, nuthatch or robin and get to know other native species.