goldfinch

goldfinch
/gohld"finch'/, n.
1. a European finch, Carduelis carduelis, having a crimson face and wings marked with yellow.
2. any of certain related American finches of the genus Carduelis, as C. tristis, the male of which has yellow body plumage in the summer.
[bef. 1000; ME; OE goldfinc. See GOLD, FINCH]

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Any of several species (genus Carduelis, family Carduelidae) of songbirds that have a short, notched tail and much yellow in the plumage.

All have a bill that is more delicate and sharply pointed than that of most finches. They live in flocks, feeding on weeds in fields and gardens. They have high, lisping calls. Various species live in western Eurasia and North and South America and have been introduced into New Zealand and Australia. They are typically 4–5.5 in. (10–14 cm) long. The male of the American goldfinch (or wild canary), found across North America, is bright yellow, with black cap, wings, and tail.

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bird
  any of several species of the genus Carduelis (some formerly in Spinus) of the songbird family Carduelidae (sometimes placed in the Ploceidae); they have short, notched tails and much yellow in the plumage. All have rather delicate sharp-pointed bills for finches. Flocks of goldfinches feed on weeds in fields and gardens. They have high, lisping calls, often given in flight. The 14-centimetre (5 1/2-inch) European goldfinch (C. carduelis) of western Eurasia has been introduced into Australia, New Zealand, and Bermuda and the United States (where it has not become established). It is brownish and black, with a red–white–black head pattern and gold in the wings (sexes alike). The 13-cm (5-in.) American goldfinch (C. tristis), also called wild canary, is found across North America; the male is bright yellow, with black cap, wings, and tail. The 10-cm (4-in.) dark-backed goldfinch (C. psaltria) ranges from the western U.S. (where it is called lesser goldfinch) to Peru.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Goldfinch — Gruppe Rambler Rose, Multiflora Hybride Herkunft England, 1907 Züchter …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Goldfinch — may refer to any of the following species of bird from the genus Carduelis * American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis * Lesser Goldfinch, Carduelis psaltria * Lawrence s Goldfinch, Carduelis lawrencei * European Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis …   Wikipedia

  • Goldfinch — Gold finch , n. [AS. goldfinc. See {Gold}, and {Finch}.] (Zo[ o]l.) (a) A beautiful bright colored European finch ({Carduelis elegans}). The name refers to the large patch of yellow on the wings. The front of the head and throat are bright red;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • goldfinch — from O.E. goldfinc; see GOLD (Cf. gold) + FINCH (Cf. finch) …   Etymology dictionary

  • goldfinch — ► NOUN ▪ a brightly coloured finch with a yellow patch on each wing …   English terms dictionary

  • goldfinch — [gōld′finch΄] n. [ME < OE goldfinc: see GOLD & FINCH] any of various yellow and black finches; esp., a Eurasian songbird (Carduelis carduelis) or an American species ( C. tristis) …   English World dictionary

  • goldfinch — noun A small passerine bird of the finch family; the European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis, the American goldfinch, Carduelis tristis, Lawrences Goldfinch, Carduelis lawrencei, or the lesser goldfinch, Carduelis psaltria …   Wiktionary

  • Goldfinch — Recorded in a variety of forms including Finch, Fink, Vink and Vinck, and the more coloured Goldfinch, this is an English surname. It is of Olde English pre 7th Century origins and has two possible interpretations. Firstly, it may be a metonymic… …   Surnames reference

  • goldfinch — UK [ˈɡəʊldˌfɪntʃ] / US [ˈɡoʊldˌfɪntʃ] noun [countable] Word forms goldfinch : singular goldfinch plural goldfinches a small bird with yellow feathers on its wings that is common in Europe …   English dictionary

  • goldfinch — noun a brightly coloured finch with yellow feathers in the plumage. [Carduelis carduelis (Eurasia), C. tristis (American goldfinch), and related species.] …   English new terms dictionary

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