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Carduelis chloris (L.)
Chloris chloris

Aves, Passeriformes, Fringillidae .

Greenfinch

Description, Biology, Life Cycle, Damage, Common Names, Images

[R]Description
- Adult: 13-14 cm long; 25-27 cm wingspan; feathers olive-green with rump green-yellow and wings and tail more yellow; beak large and pinkish; legs pink (*) ; female duller and less yellow (*) ; young brown and striped.
- Egg: whitish to greenish and mottled brown and purplish.
Nest: made of moss, dry stems, roots, hairs, feathers; usually built in evergreen or bushy plants.

[R]Biology
- The greenfinch is very common in France and is present in gardens, parks, alleys lined with trees and forests of conifers.
- This gregarious species occurs in large flocks which mix especially with chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus). During the winter, these groups, which have formed in the autumn, wander in cultivated fields in search of food. They disperse in April and become arboreal.
- Greenfinches are granivorous but may also capture a few insects to feed their young. They feed on the ground, pick grains or devour buds on trees and shrubs.

[R]Life Cycle
- 4-5 eggs are laid in April-early May, others being laid in June-July.

[R]Damage
- Damage results from the consumption of seeds (Cruciferae, Gramineae, cereals, rice, sunflower) (*) (*) . This species can also cause damage in orchards (cherry) or vine.

[R]Common Names
DE: Grünfink ES: Verderon FR: Verdier IT: Verderon PT: Verdelhăo GB: Greenfinch

[R] Images

  1. Carduelis chloris (L.) (ACTA)
    Male
  2. Carduelis chloris (L.) (BAYER)
    Head
  3. Carduelis chloris (L.) (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Damage to capitulum of sunflower
  4. Carduelis chloris (L.) (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Damage to wheat ears after harvest
  5. Carduelis chloris (L.) (Coatmeur J. & P. Faucheux / SPHN)
    Female

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