The European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) is a familiar and stocky finch often seen at garden bird feeders. A cousin of the Chaffinch, this tough-looking bird is most notable for its powerful, seed-cracking beak. With its handsome olive-green coat and bright yellow flashes on its wings and tail, it's a truly charming garden visitor.
The male has a bright olive-green back and belly, with greyish tones on its head. Its most striking features are the brilliant yellow flashes on the edge of its wings (forming a distinct wing bar) and on the sides of its tail.
The female is more subdued, with greyer, more streaked plumage. In both sexes, the very thick, conical, pale pink beak is the species' true calling card.
A Greenfinch's song is a fast, twittering series of notes, famous for the long, nasal, wheezing "dzweeeeeee" sound it often includes. Its flight call is a dry, rolling "tchi-tchi-tchi" or "jup-jup-jup".
| Feature | European Greenfinch | Chaffinch (Male) |
|---|---|---|
| Beak | Very thick, conical, pale pink | Small, classic, greyish-blue in summer |
| Dominant Colour | Olive-green and yellow | Pinkish-orange, blue-grey head, brown back |
The European Greenfinch is a widespread species found in semi-open habitats such as woodland edges, parks, orchards, and especially gardens, where it is a frequent visitor to bird feeders. It is resident across most of Europe, while the northernmost and eastern populations migrate south for the winter.
By the Birds-Online.com team, published July 1, 2025.
My advice: To be sure you're looking at a Greenfinch, ignore the colour for a moment and focus on the beak! It's the unmistakable feature. This massive, almost disproportionate beak gives it a characteristic "gruff" expression. If you see that powerful pink bill, capable of cracking a sunflower seed with ease, you've found a Greenfinch.
Once extremely common, the European Greenfinch has suffered a worrying decline. It is highly susceptible to a parasitic disease called trichomonosis, which spreads via contaminated water and unhygienic feeding stations. This has been particularly devastating in the UK, where the population crashed by more than 60% in a decade. It is crucial to clean bird feeders and baths regularly to protect this species and others like the Goldfinch.
Look for its very thick, conical, pale pink beak. The male is bright olive-green with yellow wing flashes; the female is duller and greyer but retains the same powerful beak.
The main reason is a parasitic disease, trichomonosis, which spreads at garden feeding stations. Habitat loss also contributes to their decline.
The beak is the key difference: very stout and pink on the Greenfinch, but smaller and greyish on the Chaffinch. The male Chaffinch is also much more colourful with a blue-grey head and pinkish-orange breast.