English: European Goldfinch, Goldfinch, Eurasian Goldfinch             
Russian: Черноголовый щегол       
Mongolian: Бор бужиранга, Бор бужирга
German: Steiglitz    
French: Chardonneret elegant         
Japanese: ゴシキヒワ (Goshiki-hiwa)

Body length:12-13½ cm.

Breeds in low-lying deciduous woodland, pine plantations and orchards. Mainly summer visitor, majority wintering in S and W Europe. Often seen in flocks after breeding. Frequently forages on seeding thistles, burdocks, etc.

Identification: Unmistakable with its red ‘face’, its otherwise black and white head, the jet-black wing with broad yellow wing-bar (visible also on perched bird) and prominent white rump and black tail with spots. Sexes in practice alike in the field. Bill relatively long and very pointed, ivory-white.

• Juvenile (up to Aug-Oct): Head grey-brown and diffusely streaked, without adult’s red, white and black pattern.