Greenfinch

Above and Below: Greenfinches.

The greenfinch is a typical finch in shape and behaviour. The large powerful beak is perfect for crushing seeds which make up a substantial part of their diet. They are resident in the UK and are very easy to find and to photograph. However, don't let their common occurrence make you undervalue these birds. If they were rare we'd all think that they are incredible and they are.

They are, as their name implies predominantly green although the male is generally a brighter green than the paler, drabber female that can sometimes appear more greyish or pale brownish than green. The beak is wide and powerful and pale in colour. The legs are also a pale pinkish/flesh colour. The body and head are green whilst the rump is often more yellowish. The wings are dark grey/green with a distinct yellow edge clearly visible when the wing is folded. The tail feathers and primaries on the wing are very dark grey, almost black with white edges to the feathers. All of this makes for a colourful bird that is fun to watch and photograph.

You should be able to tempt them into your garden, even in most urban areas. They like conifers to nest and roost in and they love sunflower seeds. They are usually quite sociable but can squabble where access to food is restricted. If you can't see them they are easy to locate by their distinctive wheezing song.

If you can't tempt them in to your garden, or if your garden doesn't offer good photo opportunities, there are plenty of places around the north west where you can see and photograph these birds. In North Wales, the bird feeders by the hides at the Spinnies nature reserve at Aberogwen are frequently visited by Greenfinches and Risley Moss (woodland hide) near Warrington and Pennington Flash (bunting hide) near Leigh, both offer excellent chances of getting really great photographs.