Goldfinch- Carduelis carduelis

[Chocky]

This is a female .There were many at Bowling Green Marsh reserve

[Merlin]

I wonder if we could agree, the Goldfinch cannot be sexed in the field Beryl......no jokes anyone......PLEASE!


Pete.

[Chocky]

OK. Now look closely at the pare in the thread blow is the URL.

A goldfinch male is more vivid than the female. His red goes further blow the beak / bill than the female and slightly more just behind the eyes. The red on the female is as I said not as bright and finishes just before the corner of the eyes.
Especially in the third and forth photos

http://www.thamesvalleybirds.co.uk/b...ldfinches.html

[Merlin]

Quote from Collins Bird Guide......sexes in practice are alike in the field.

I just looked through six field guides Beryl and not one has illustrations of male and female Goldfinch.


Pete.

[Chocky]

Well as I told you . the males red extends behind the eye and the female is slightly duller
Look here
British Garden Birds - Goldfinch

Also here under appearance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Goldfinch

And it will also tell you at the bottom of this page

http://www.thewesternisles.co.uk/birds/goldfinch-6.htm


Hope this helps

[rolf]

Don't think there is any doubt that there is a slight difference, just that it is a small relative difference and very difficult to spot in the field, obviously much easier if you have a photo of a pair of birds to compare. Also, this is not always guaranteed and may vary from region to region, I certainly wouldn't be able to tell from a single bird spotted in the field whether it was male or female.

[Chocky]

Fine ok. As you say

[digidark]

All I know is that its a Goldfinch (its one of the few birds I can recognise). Lovely pic Beryl

[Chocky]

Thank you Ian