Goldfinch (European Goldfinch)
Carduelis carduelis
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Distribution Britain 2,209 (+5.4%) Ireland 749 (-17.9%)
Numbers breeding: Britain 220,000 Ireland 55,000 European status: 8,000,000 (3% in Britain and Ireland = 9=) British population trend: stable (+2% CBC, +18% farm){+10%} How likely are you to record it? 2,175 squares (48.4%) Ranked 25 [29] |
Towards the end of the 19th century the Goldfinch was in retreat and severely depleted in many areas through the catching of large numbers of birds for caging and, possibly, through agricultural change. The birds were no longer breeding in Northern Scotland, were rare in the South and through much of Northern England and near large towns in Ireland — Wales seemed largely unaffected. Protection laws began to have their effect and the agricultural depression increased the weedy areas where they feed and so there was a reasonably steady increase until the early 1960s. Then the severe winters caused a sharp drop followed by a rather slow recovery. In about 1975 numbers started to drop (CBC) by over 40% during the next ten years, possibly due to the use of more efficient herbicides, but the birds have largely recovered since. Between the two Breeding Atlases there were significant gains from Aberdeen to the North coast of mainland Scotland although they still do not breed on Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides. In Ireland the was a net loss of over 150 10-km squares, but, in some areas, they now breed in mature conifer plantations. Set fair for one of our most brightly coloured birds.
The following Bird On! pictures are available:
Goldfinch (Watercolour by Robert Gillmor)
The following Bird On! sketch is available:
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead