Goldfinch    Ohakalind     Carduelis carduelis

The passing of migrants heading towards south usually ends with the end of October but weather and winds also play a part. A couple of ten thousand ”brave” winterers remain depending on the severity of the winter. Breeders in Estonia in summer are estimated at forty to sixty thousand pairs.

The sociable goldfinches move around foraging in small groups and so they can be compared to each other easily.

They have enough colours to go for many species. The plumage of adult birds is rather similar. They are about the size of a great tit, weight less than twenty grams. The slightly larger male birds have a little more red in the head plumage and the yellow streak on the wing is a little broader and stronger coloured.

The juveniles are easily recognized in the group – they are greyish brown with narrow streaks but on the wings yellow feathers can already be seen.

As seed-eaters they search for food in areas overgrown with weeds: thistles, burdocks or other Compositae family plants.

See where goldfinches have been noted in Estonia: LINK