Greenfinch

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Greenfinch, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Red listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(III), Bern(III)

Greenfinch abundance fluctuated somewhat up to the mid 1990s, but there was little change in either survival or breeding performance during this period (Siriwardena et al. 1998b, 2000b). More recent CBC/BBS data indicate population increases widely across the UK, followed by a sudden sharp fall induced by a widespread and severe outbreak of trichomonosis disease. Although Greenfinch is currently still green listed in the UK, based on the trend at the time of the last review (Eaton et al. 2015), the current decline would raise red listing and caused it to be rated as 'Endangered' in a recent assessment of UK species which followed IUCN criteria and categories (Stanbury et al. 2017).

The BBS map of change in relative density between 1994-96 and 2007-09 indicates that increases over that period, strongest in East Anglia and in western Britain, contrasted with decreases in eastern Northern Ireland, northeastern Scotland and central southern England. The subsequent, disease-related decrease is ongoing in all parts of the UK. Numbers across Europe have been broadly stable since 1980, with early increases being followed by a decline starting in the 1990s (PECBMS: PECBMS 2020a>).

UK breeding population

-69% decrease (1967–2022)

Greenfinches are widely distributed in winter and the breeding season, perhaps showing especially strong associations with villages and towns across Britain & Ireland. Like the Goldfinch, its only significant range gaps are in the higher parts of northern Scotland. Highest densities are found on lower ground, mainly in south and southeast England, eastern Scotland and in pockets throughout Ireland.

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Occupied 10-km squares in UK

No. occupied in breeding season	2718
% occupied in breeding season	90
No. occupied in winter	2677
% occupied in winter	89

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Breeding Season Habitats

Most frequent in	Villages
Also common in	Towns

Relative frequency by habitat

Relative occurrence in different habitat types during the breeding season.

Since the 1981–84 Winter Atlas the range has increased by 18%, involving infilling in western Ireland and parts of Wales and northern England, and a more continuous expansion around the coastal-upland fringe in northwest Scotland.

Greenfinch is recorded throughout the year on up to 30% of complete lists.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	11 years 3 months 24 days (set in 1998)
Typical Lifespan	2 years with breeding typically at 1 year
Adult Survival	0.443±0.006   (Male: 0.468±0.015 Female: 0.472±0.019)
Juvenile Survival	0.416 (in first year)

Wing Length	Adults	87.7±4.2 | Range 84–91mm, N=118743
	Juveniles	87.5±2.2 | Range 84-91mm, N=72205
	Males	88.8±4.1 | Range 86–92mm, N=65831
	Females	86.3±4 | Range 83–89mm, N=52565

Body Weight	Adults	27.7±4.1 | Range 24.7–30.9g, N=96718
	Juveniles	27.7±2.9 | Range 25.0–30.7g, N=55415
	Males	27.5±3.6 | Range 24.6–30.6g, N=53386
	Females	27.8±4.5 | Range 24.9–31.1g, N=43027

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	B
Field Codes	2-letter: GR | 5-letter code: GREFI | Euring: 16490

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

The rapid decline since 2005 has been caused by a severe outbreak of trichomonosis.

Further information on causes of change

The sudden sharp fall that began in 2005 was induced by a widespread and severe outbreak of trichomonosis, a disease which affects the upper digestive tract (Robinson et al. 2010b, Lawson et al. 2012b, 2018). Integrated population modelling shows that changes in survival have indeed been the strongest contributor to annual population change (Robinson et al. 2014).

Productivity data show minor decreases in clutch and brood sizes, but no change in the number of fledglings per breeding attempt. The trend towards earlier laying may be explained by recent climate change (Crick & Sparks 1999).

Information about conservation actions

The recent population downturn has been directly linked to the spread of trichomonosis (Lawson et al. 2014), and hence hygiene precautions are important in gardens where food and water is being provided, and stopping feeding should be considered if birds with the disease are observed (https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/gbw/gardens-wildlife/garden-birds/disease/trichomonosis). The rate of decline has not yet slowed down and it is unclear whether improved garden hygiene will halt the decline.

As for Chaffinch, there have been no conservation concerns about this species until recently; hence there are no specific conservation actions relating to this species. However, assuming some birds are resistant to trichomonosis, actions and policies aimed at helping other farmland species are also likely to benefit Geenfinches and may enable numbers to recover in the future. These would include actions aimed at increasing food availability over winter (e.g. overwinter stubbles, wild bird seed or cover mixtures, set-aside, buffer strips or uncultivated margins) and those aimed at improving breeding habitat and food availability during the breeding season (e.g. management of hedgerows and reducing pesticide and herbicide use).