European Goldfinch

European Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

Zangezur National Park

A species of bird belonging to the Passerine family of the Passerine order of the Bird class. It is widespread in Azerbaijan, found from the plains to the foothills and mountainous areas.

The body length is about 12 cm, weight is 20 grams. Its feathers are shiny. The front of the head is bright red, the crown and back are black, and the cheeks are white. There is a wide yellow stripe on the black wings, with black and white spots on the trailing edge; the tail is black, with white spots at the tip. The beak is reddish-white. Females are almost indistinguishable from males in appearance.

They live in forests and clearings. Nomadic flocks form from early spring. In April, they divide into pairs and look for nesting sites. Males during the breeding season have red spots on their faces.

They feed on insects and plant seeds. They gather in small groups during the summer months and gradually move south in the fall.