GOLDFINCH
What a cracking little bird, definitely one of my favourites. Goldfinches come in at 120 to 135mm long. Males and females have fairly similar plumages. A red face on a black and white head. The back and sides are buff or chestnut brown, and the underparts are whitish. The wings are jet black, with a broad yellow wing bar. The tail is black, forked and has white spots. The bill is ivory coloured, relatively long and pointed. The female has less red on her face.
Goldfinches breed in low lying, deciduous woodland, pine forests, orchards and olive groves. Here on Kefalonia, they are resident all year round. Nesting takes place several metres above the ground, hidden by leaves in the twigs at the end of a branch. The female builds the nest which is neat and compact and made of moss and lichens. It is attached to the branch with spider silk. 4 to 6 eggs are laid and incubated for 2 weeks by the female. The male feeds her during incubation. Goldfinches have 2 broods a year, sometimes 3.
