Photo: Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan from Aliabad, Hunza, Pakistan / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-crowned Goldfinch
Carduelis caniceps
Grey-crowned Goldfinch (Carduelis caniceps) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey-crowned Goldfinch (Carduelis caniceps) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 16 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 Carduelis
- Species caniceps
Where it lives
Southern, eastern Iran and Central Asia from western Turkmenistan and northeastern Kazakhstan to south-central Siberia, western Mongolia, northwestern China and western, central Himalayas
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-crowned Goldfinch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Grey-crowned Goldfinch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey-crowned Goldfinch (Carduelis caniceps) is a species of bird in the Fringillidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL s, e Iran and Central Asia from w Turkmenistan and ne Kazakhstan to sc Siberia, w Mongolia, nw China and w, c Himalayas.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16 g, with a wing length of about 7.7 cm and a tail of around 4.9 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 3.6 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-crowned Goldfinch?
The Grey-crowned Goldfinch is a small bird that weighs around 16 g.
Where does the Grey-crowned Goldfinch live?
The Grey-crowned Goldfinch is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL s, e Iran and Central Asia from w Turkmenistan and ne Kazakhstan to sc Siberia, w Mongolia, nw China and w, c Himalayas, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Grey-crowned Goldfinch belong to?
The Grey-crowned Goldfinch (Carduelis caniceps) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey-crowned Goldfinch eat?
The Grey-crowned Goldfinch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Grey-crowned Goldfinch migrate?
The Grey-crowned Goldfinch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey-crowned Goldfinch endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Grey-crowned Goldfinch's range?
The Grey-crowned Goldfinch has a mapped global range of about 3.6 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
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