goldfinch

1. a common European finch, Carduelis carduelis, the adult of which has a red-and-white face and yellow-and-black wings

2. any of several North American finches of the genus Spinus, esp the yellow-and-black species S. tristis

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Goldfinch

(Carduelis carduelis), a bird of the family Fringillidae of the order Passeriformes. The body length is 12 cm. The wings are black with a yellow stripe, and the crown is black or gray. There is a red ring around the beak. The goldfinch occurs in Europe, Western Asia, and Northwest Africa. In the USSR it is found from the western border east to the Enisei River. The goldfinch settles in deciduous groves, felled areas, and gardens. It nests in shrubs or trees. A clutch contains four to six eggs, which are incubated for 12 or 13 days by the female. The bird feeds on seeds of broad bean sorrel, burdock, thistle, and other weeds. The nestlings are fed insects. Goldfinches are frequently kept as pets.

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References in periodicals archive

Goldfinches are always a delight whether feasting on thistle seeds or flitting in undulating flight from one patch of thistles to another, their whispering little contact calls a constant reminder of their presence.

Singing goldfinches prospering once more

Meanwhile, my belief that two goldfinches had nested in my front garden were proved correct when I discovered a fledgling bird on my drive.

GO WILDwith eric paylor

Just as the goldfinch has long been a symbol of healing and renewal and was a prominent figure of the Renaissance, Goldfinch Bio is leading a new age of therapeutic discovery to transform the treatment paradigm for patients with kidney diseases.

Goldfinch Bio Initiates Phase 1 Clinical Trial of GFB-887 for Kidney Disease

If you are going on holiday soon and fancy a great read, have a google at The Goldfinch.