European Goldfinch vs African Chaffinch
Carduelis carduelis compared with Fringilla spodiogenys
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | European Goldfinch | African Chaffinch |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Carduelis carduelis | Fringilla spodiogenys |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae | Fringillidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Length | 13.0 cm (5.1 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 23.0 cm (9.1 in) | — |
| Weight | 16.0 g (0.56 oz) | 22.7025 g (0.80 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, especially thistle (Carduus) and teasel seeds, extracted with its precise tweezer-like bill. Also takes … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
European Goldfinch only
African Chaffinch only
European Goldfinch
Open woodland, orchards, gardens, parks, and weedy fields with seed-bearing plants. Common at garden bird feeders.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
African Chaffinch
Geographic Range & Migration
European Goldfinch
Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America.
African Chaffinch
Conservation Status
European Goldfinch
African Chaffinch
How to Tell Them Apart
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
African Chaffinch
About These Birds
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.
African Chaffinch
The African Chaffinch weighs about 23g and is found in North Africa and the Canary Islands. It inhabits woodland and scrub, foraging for seeds and insects on the ground and in trees.