European Greenfinch
BirdCare.com.au
PO  Box 126 Mitcham Vic 3132 ( Victoria, Australia )

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. European Greenfinch
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    photo of european Greenfinch
  • Scientific Name:  Carduelis chloris
  • Common Name/s:  EUROPEAN GREENFINCH,   GREENFINCH,  GREEN LINNET.
  • Sub Species in country / area of origin:  4
  • Origin / Distribution:  Europe, Britain, Asia and Africa.
  • Habitat In Wild:  Woodlands and grasslands and has adapted to farmlands and urban areas.
  • Status In Wild: Common
  • Status In (Australian) Captivity:  Common
  • Age To Sexual Maturity:  ?
  • Best breeding years (estimate):  2nd - 7th
  • Lifespan (estimate):  Up to 10 years.
  • Sexing:  Monomorphic / Dimorphic
  • Mutations:  Yes
  • Availability:  Bird dealers.  Has established feral wild populations in some Australian States and inhabit urban areas.
  • Temperament:  Easy to breed but hybridizes easily.  They are a large bird and often aggressive in a mixed collection to smaller species.  Not a popular bird in aviaries.
  • Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx.) $ 30
  • Description Of Adults:
  1. Length: Approx. 140 - 160 mm (or approx.  6 inches)
  2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo/s above if available.
  3. Weight: Approx.  25 gm (or almost 1 ozs)

Aviary Notes:

Read notes on "Finches - Non Australian" web page and use in conjunction with details outlined on this page.

Level Of Knowledge Required:  Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws:  Refer to "Government Laws" web page.

Housing Requirements:  Click on "Housing birds" web page for general details on the housing of Non Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.

Best kept as one European Greenfinch pair in a mixed finch collection in a planted aviary.  May be aggressive to smaller species of finches.  Can be bred in an aviary or an indoor cage.

Diet / Feeding:  Click on "Feeding birds" web page for general details on the nutrition of  Non Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.

The European Greenfinch requires a good quality finch mix and seeding grasses.  Live food is not essential but is beneficial.  Mealworms are ideal.  Sprouted or soaked seed if available.

Basic seed mix should include Canary seed, White French Millet, Japanese Millet, and Yellow and Red Panicum.

Nesting:  A basic overview only.

  • Roosting nest: Yes / No
  • Nesting months:  Spring and summer.
  • Nesting receptacles:  Will build a cup shaped nest in a shrub or dry brush.  Equally it will build a nest in an artificial cup shaped nest.
  • Nest:  Cup shaped nest made from twigs, grasses, moss and other soft materials.  The hen builds the nest and  is generally built at mid to high height in the aviary.  Nests are often recycled between clutches.
  • Who incubates the eggs: Hen / cock / both share.

Greenfinches usually reuse the nest for subsequent clutches.  Additional nest material must be available.
More details on finch nests and a selection of finch nest photos can be located on the "nests", "finch nests" and "finch nest photos" web pages.  Click on "Up" then "nests" then "finch nests" and "finch nests photos" in the navigation bars.

Breeding: Egg Colour Off white, mottled.  Clutch/s per year  2 - 3.  Eggs per nest  4 - 6.  Incubation approx.  14 days.  Fledge approx.  14 - 16 days.  Independent approx. another ? days/weeks.

Nest inspection is usually easy and generally well tolerated.  Easy to breed but hybridizes easily.  They are a large bird and often aggressive in a mixed collection.  Not a popular bird in aviaries.  Will breed in a cage.

Not commonly bred as an aviary bird and not an easy bird to be bred when compared to its low price/value.  To ensure good breeding results, purchase only aviary bred birds.  Birds trapped legally from wild feral populations may take a long time to settle down or die prematurely.  Wild trapped birds generally will not adapt to a cage.

Artificial incubation, hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site.  It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.  Refer "Specific References" as listed below and "General References" listings.

Health Issues:  Refer "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

  • Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new birds or sick birds are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site.  Refer above option - "Avian Health Issues" web page.
  • Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace.  Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References:  Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

  • Australian Aviculture
  • A/A Vol 34 No. 4 Apr 1980 Page 63-65
  • A/A Vol 20 No 7 Jul 1966 Page 103-104.
  • A/A Vol 17 No 9 Sept 1963 Page 122-123.
  • A/A Vol  6 No 8 Aug 1952 Page 95.
  • Australian Birdkeeper
  • ABK Vol 17 Issue 1. Feb-Mar 2004 Page 19-21.

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