The goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is smaller than a sparrow, but so much more colorful. An adult goldfinch can be immediately recognized by its bright red face and its black and white head. Its black wings are interrupted by a vivid yellow stripe, which makes it noticeable from afar as well as in flight. The shoulders and back are pinkish brown, the rump is pure white, and the tail is black with longitudinal white stripes. On the chest and flanks it is light brown, the belly is dirty white. Young goldfinches, which have not yet reached one year of age, have wings colored black and yellow, typical of goldfinches, but the plumage on their head is not red and black and white striped.
The goldfinch inhabits open cultural landscapes with dense hedgerows and tall-stem orchards, but it also does well in towns, gardens and parks, and at forest edges. Its favourite food is seeds, especially seeds of tall stalks such as ščetica, repinec and osat, but seeds of glavincev, grintov and regratov also regularly appear on its menu. Young birds, during their rapid growth and development, are fed largely on insects, which are energy-rich and available as food in the warmer part of the year.
The goldfinch is a year-round resident and can be observed here throughout the year. In Slovenia it is a very common and widely distributed breeder that nests in April and May. A courtship dance is characteristic of goldfinches, during which, perched on a branch, they flutter their wings and sway to and fro. In autumn and winter they gather into flocks, which during the day wander around in search of food. They are attracted to tall stalks, which often grow in places with constant human influence (ruderal habitats), therefore after nesting goldfinches visit human settlements even more frequently.
