European goldfinch / Stieglitz (Carduelis carduelis)

Nach Disteln mögen sie Sonnenblumenkerne 2020-10-13 09.21.10 Luppmen
Classification: Genus Carduelis; Subfamily Carduelinae; Family Fringillidae
One of the more colorful birds in our area, but fairly shy and skittish, so you don't see them much. Supposedly a bit smaller than a sparrow or a great tit, but to me they look bigger and heavier?
Well hidden in the tree branches; at thistles or sunflowers.
birdnet *
birdnet *
Name stammt angeblich vom Gesang: ein steigernder sti-ge-litt.
My first (multilingual) notes: Stieglitz like Grünfink, fast, high, occasional trills. Occasionally ends a bit with falling note like buchfink
Mir wurde erst in St. Moritz in Juli 2021 bewusst wie aehnlich der Steiglitz wie ein Gruenfink klingt - beide koennen lange Gesang mit Trillern und rauhen sinkenden Toenen singen, und ich habe Stieglitz v.a. durch dieses Stoehnen fuer Gruenfink gehalten.
Song: Contact-call distinct, and also constitutes a major part of the song. A sharp and explosive "witt", or "tzee-witt". Sometimes given as a single syllable, di- or trisyllabic, or as continuous series. The song is comprised of rapid series of the contact call, interrupted by drawn-out melodic notes and trills. [Link]
Calls: Other calls: A harsh budgerigar or house martin-like "trrrtt-trrrrt". [Link]
Physical details: length=12 cm, wingspan=21-25 cm, weight=14-19 g
Habitats: Settlement

Song: General: Hectic sing-song, quite chaotic in feeding groups. But kept as songbird, so I guess more melodic when singing solo. A bit like a black cap warbler (Mönchsgrasmücke).
Gesang hat eine Struktur (und ist langsamer als der Girlitz): Zuerst eine kleine Melodie hoch und runter; dann vielleicht ein Gruenfink-Triller, dann 4 wiederholte Noten oder ein neues Melodiechen. (Oder kommen diese Elemente eher zufaellig?)
Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-7 KHz Special sounds: rattle, fluting Singing season: year round Only pauses singing while molting and thus endangered. Dawn chorus start, 20 minutes before dawn.
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC638230 - European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis.mp3 (song)


Call: Wild melody (remember these birds are also kept as songbirds in cages. the German name Stieglitz imitates its call (sti-ge-lit) - though I don't hear that! [Link]
Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Xeno-Canto recording Adult call recorded in the UK. Source: XENOCANTO XC468566 European Goldfinch call in UK.mp3 (call)

Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Xeno-Canto recording Record in Lège-Cap-Ferret, France byStanislas Wroza and described by him as a 'tik' call and a flight call. Source: XENOCANTO XC526383 European Goldfinch flight call.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Call melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-8 KHz,
First documented observation : 2019-09-22 in Luppmen.