European Goldfinch, Jilguero

Description:

Small passerine bird in the finch family. It is 12–13 cm long with a wingspan of 21–25 cm. Both sexes are similar, with a red face, black and white head, brown upperparts, white underparts with buff flanks and breast patches, and black and yellow wings. Male Goldfinches have a larger, darker red mask that extends just behind the eye. In females, the red face does not reach the eye. The beak is white to ivory-coloured, long and pointed, and the tail is forked. Goldfinchs feed on small seeds from thistles (the Latin name is from Carduus, a genus of thistles) and teasels, but insects are also taken when feeding young. This subspecies is Carduelis carduelis parva subespecies which thrives in Iberian peninsula, North-West Africa and Macaronesic islands.

Habitat:

Meadows and bushes close to the sea shore

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/800 sec.; f/14; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm.