Black-eared Seedeater vs European Goldfinch
Crithagra mennelli compared with Carduelis carduelis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-eared Seedeater | European Goldfinch |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crithagra mennelli | Carduelis carduelis |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae | Fringillidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 13.0 cm (5.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 16.1 cm (6.3 in) | 23.0 cm (9.1 in) |
| Weight | 15.333333333333334 g (0.54 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 | 2-4 | 4-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Black-eared Seedeater only
None
European Goldfinch only
European Goldfinch
Open woodland, orchards, gardens, parks, and weedy fields with seed-bearing plants. Common at garden bird feeders.
Song & Call Comparison
Black-eared Seedeater
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
Black-eared Seedeater
European Goldfinch
Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America.
Conservation Status
Black-eared Seedeater
European Goldfinch
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-eared Seedeater
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
Black-eared Seedeater
The Black-eared Seedeater is a small, streaky finch with a distinctive black ear patch contrasting against its pale buff-white face and underparts. It is found in miombo woodland and adjacent open scrublands of central and southern Africa, ranging from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Zimbabwe. It feeds predominantly on grass seeds, often foraging in small flocks on or near the ground.
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.