Redpoll vs European Goldfinch
Acanthis flammea compared with Carduelis carduelis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Redpoll | European Goldfinch |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Acanthis flammea | Carduelis carduelis |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae | Fringillidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 13.0 cm (5.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 15.2 cm (6.0 in) | 23.0 cm (9.1 in) |
| Weight | 15.466666666666667 g (0.55 oz) | 16.0 g (0.56 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Seeds, especially thistle (Carduus) and teasel seeds, extracted with its precise tweezer-like bill. Also takes … |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | 4-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Redpoll only
European Goldfinch only
None
European Goldfinch
Open woodland, orchards, gardens, parks, and weedy fields with seed-bearing plants. Common at garden bird feeders.
Song & Call Comparison
Redpoll
European Goldfinch
A liquid, tinkling 'swit-swit-swit' in flight and a melodic twittering song. Flocks produce a bright jingling chorus. Male song is a sweet repetitive warble incorporating the flight call.
Geographic Range & Migration
Redpoll
European Goldfinch
Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America.
Conservation Status
Redpoll
European Goldfinch
How to Tell Them Apart
Redpoll
European Goldfinch
Crimson red face with white cheeks and a black crown. Sandy-brown back with a bright yellow wing bar visible in flight. Black and white tail.
Slender, pointed, ivory-pink bill adapted for extracting seeds from thistles
About These Birds
Redpoll
The Redpoll (<em>Acanthis flammea</em>) is a small finch belonging to the family Fringillidae (Finches). Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature. It is among the more habitat-versatile members of its family, occurring in coastal areas, desert margins, forests, grasslands, and wetlands. The species constructs a cup nest (CP type); clutch size typically ranges from 3 to 7 eggs, with incubation lasting 10–12 days and fledging at 9–16 days. The Redpoll is assessed as …
European Goldfinch
The European goldfinch is a strikingly beautiful finch whose tinkling song and colorful plumage have made it popular in art and as a caged bird for centuries. It appears frequently in Renaissance paintings as a symbol of the Passion of Christ. Flocks of goldfinches are charmingly called a charm.