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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	European Goldfinch	Ethiopian Siskin
Scientific Name	Carduelis carduelis	Serinus nigriceps
Order	Passeriformes	Passeriformes
Family	Fringillidae	Fringillidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern
Length	13.0 cm (5.1 in)	—
Wingspan	23.0 cm (9.1 in)	15.1 cm (5.9 in)
Weight	16.0 g (0.56 oz)	15.4 g (0.54 oz)
Diet	Seeds, especially thistle (Carduus) and teasel seeds, extracted with its precise tweezer-like bill. Also takes …	--
Clutch Size	4-6	2-3
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

European Goldfinch 13.0 cm

Ethiopian Siskin —

Wingspan

European Goldfinch 23.0 cm

Ethiopian Siskin 15.1 cm

Weight

European Goldfinch 16.0 g

Ethiopian Siskin 15.4 g

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

🌲 Forest 🌾 Grassland

European Goldfinch only

🏖️ Coastal 🌿 Wetland

Ethiopian Siskin only

None

European Goldfinch

Open woodland, orchards, gardens, parks, and weedy fields with seed-bearing plants. Common at garden bird feeders.

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Song & Call Comparison

European Goldfinch

Song

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.

Ethiopian Siskin

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Geographic Range & Migration

European Goldfinch

Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America.

Ethiopian Siskin

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

European Goldfinch

Least Concern

Ethiopian Siskin

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How to Tell Them Apart

European Goldfinch

Plumage

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.

Bill

Slender, pointed, ivory-pink bill adapted for extracting seeds from thistles

Ethiopian Siskin

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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.

Ethiopian Siskin

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Related Comparisons

European Goldfinch vs Hawfinch

same-family

European Robin vs European Goldfinch

look-alike

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