Photo: Didier Descouens / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
European Greenfinch
Chloris chloris
European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 13 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 26 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias
- Genus Chloris
- Species chloris
Where it lives
Subarctic to subtropical western, central Palearctic in woods, gardens, oases: British Isles and northern Scandinavia east to northwestern Kazakhstan, northern Xinjiang (northwestern China) and Krasnoyarsk (south-central Russia); in south to Iberian Pen., Madeira and Canary Is. (Macaronesia, west of northern Africa), Morocco to Tunisia (northwestern, north-central Africa) and northeastern Egypt, Mediterranean to Turkey, Cyprus, Levant. northern Iraq and northern Iran through Altai region to southeastern Kazakhstan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 26 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The European Greenfinch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The European Greenfinch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) belongs to the Fringillidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL subarctic to subtropical w, c Palearctic in woods, gardens, oases: British Isles and n Scandinavia e to nw Kazakhstan, n Xinjiang (nw China) and Krasnoyarsk (sc Russia); in s to Iberian Pen., Madeira and Canary Is. (Macaronesia, w of n Africa), Morocco to Tunisia (nw, nc Africa) and ne Egypt, Mediterranean to Turkey, Cyprus, Levant. n Iraq and n Iran through Altai region to se Kazakhstan.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 26 g, with a wing length of about 8.5 cm and a tail of around 5.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 10.2 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the European Greenfinch?
The European Greenfinch is a small bird that weighs around 26 g.
Where does the European Greenfinch live?
The European Greenfinch is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL subarctic to subtropical w, c Palearctic in woods, gardens, oases: British Isles and n Scandinavia e to nw Kazakhstan, n Xinjiang (nw China) and Krasnoyarsk (sc Russia); in s to Iberian Pen., Madeira and Canary Is. (Macaronesia, w of n Africa), Morocco to Tunisia (nw, nc Africa) and ne Egypt, Mediterranean to Turkey, Cyprus, Levant. n Iraq and n Iran through Altai region to se Kazakhstan, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the European Greenfinch belong to?
The European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the European Greenfinch eat?
The European Greenfinch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the European Greenfinch migrate?
The European Greenfinch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the European Greenfinch endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the European Greenfinch make?
1 real field recording of the European Greenfinch — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the European Greenfinch's range?
The European Greenfinch has a mapped global range of about 10.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Fringillidae
A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.