| Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis - Family: Fringillidae
 Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis© Paul Keene (Avico Ltd)This is a rather small, slender finch, light and airy, bouncing and delicate. Its sharp conical bill is used to extract seeds that other birds cannot access such as teasel, Dipsacus fullonum, and thistles, Cirsium spp. and Cardinus spp.. It is so closely associated with thistles that both parts of its scientific name - the genus (family) name and the second, species name, reflect this. Carduus is the Latin for thistle. They can be attracted in large numbers to gardens to eat small seeds, being especially fond of niger seed. Groups of goldfinches are known, very appositely, as 'charms'. They are brightly coloured with a red, black and white head pattern. The body is warm buff with black wings with yellow wing bars. They are found in small, noisy flocks in open country, weedy fields, parks and gardens. Goldfinches nest in trees and bushes, often among brambles, the nest being a neat cup of grasses and mosses. They rear two broods a year. The song is an extremely attractive silvery tinkling, a little like that of the swallow. Like other finches which may come into the garden, including chaffinches, goldfinches are fond of lettuce seed, so if you can afford to allow some of these plants to go to seed, finches at least will appreciate it! Other seeds commonly eaten include those of dandelion, groundsel and ragwort. FoodGoldfinches use their sharp conical bill to extract awkward seeds which other birds cannot access such as teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) and thistles (Cirsium sp. and Carduus sp.). They will also take insects and their larvae. PlantsAgrimony, Cardoon, Clematis, Clematis montana, Common alder, Common knapweed, Common restharrow, Cotton thistle, Dandelion, Dark mullein, Downy birch, French marigold, Globe thistle, Greater knapweed, Hawthorn, Ivy, Lavender, Lilac, Marsh thistle, Meadow thistle, Melancholy thistle, Michaelmas daisy, Musk thistle, Ribwort plantain, Silver birch, Spear thistle, Sunflower, Teasel, Traveller's-joy PreyAphids, Beetles, Bugs, Flies, Moths, Sawflies, Spiders and harvestmen PredatorsSparrowhawk |
