European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Status:
Very common naturalized species. Thought to come from escaped caged birds in late 1800s.
Local Habitat:
Parks, gardens and golf courses. Favours the seed cones of casuarina trees and any overgrown fields or gardens with thistles. Flocks found on sea-oxeye on the shore or on seaside goldenrod on cliff tops.
Habits:
Nesting starts in April, often in casuarinas.
