European Greenfinch

Chloris chloris

During courtship, males perform a specialized 'butterfly-flight' with slow, deep wingbeats and constant singing to attract mates.

Scientific name: Chloris chloris
Taxonomy: Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Fringillidae › Chloris
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: decreasing
Biome: forest
Habitat: Woodland edges, hedgerows, parks, and suburban gardens.
Diet: Primarily seeds (especially sunflower and rosehip), though they occasionally eat insects during the breeding season.
Range: Europe, North Africa, Southwest Asia, New Zealand (introduced)
Size: 15 cm length; 24-28 cm wingspan; 25-35g weight.
Lifespan: 2-5 years
Active: diurnal
Threats: Trichomonosis (parasitic disease), habitat loss, and agricultural intensification reducing food availability.
Safe to approach?: Harmless. Observe from a distance using binoculars. If you maintain bird feeders, you must disinfect them weekly to prevent the spread of Trichomonosis, a parasite that is currently devastating their populations.

The European greenfinch , or just greenfinch ( Chloris chloris ), is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.

Photo: Martin Kunz, CC-BY, via iNaturalist