European Greenfinch

1. Thick, pale pinkish conical bill

2. Bright yellow bars on wings and tail edges, especially visible in flight

3. Males are olive-green; females are duller with similar markings

These birds primarily eat seeds from a wide variety of plants, using their strong bills to crack even tough seeds. They also consume berries and, when feeding young, supplement their diet with insects. Breeding typically occurs from October to March in Australia, with females building cup-shaped nests in trees or shrubs. Clutches usually contain 4–6 eggs, and both parents feed the chicks, which fledge about 16–18 days after hatching. Greenfinches are social, often forming flocks outside the breeding season.

European Greenfinches thrive in a range of habitats, including parks, gardens, orchards, farmland, and woodland edges across southeastern Australia. They are commonly seen at bird feeders and in mixed flocks, especially outside the breeding season. Listen for their lively trilling song and buzzy “dzweeeeee” calls, particularly during spring and summer.

The European Greenfinch was Introduced to Australia by acclimatisation societies in the late 19th and early 2th centuries.