European Goldfinch vs Akekee
Carduelis carduelis compared with Loxops caeruleirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | European Goldfinch | Akekee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Carduelis carduelis | Loxops caeruleirostris |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae | Fringillidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Length | 13.0 cm (5.1 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 23.0 cm (9.1 in) | 12.4 cm (4.9 in) |
| Weight | 16.0 g (0.56 oz) | 10.84 g (0.38 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, especially thistle (Carduus) and teasel seeds, extracted with its precise tweezer-like bill. Also takes … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
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.
Akekee
Geographic Range & Migration
European Goldfinch
Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America.
Akekee
Conservation Status
European Goldfinch
Akekee
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
Akekee
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.
Akekee
The Akekee is a critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper weighing about 11 g with a wingspan near 12 cm. Endemic to the upland forests of Kauai, it uses its uniquely twisted bill to pry open leaf buds and extract insects, and is severely threatened by avian malaria and habitat loss.