Female Greenfinches: All You Need To Know

The greenfinch, also known as the European greenfinch (Chlorella) were once a common sight at bird feeders across the UK. Unfortunately, in 2005, they contracted a finch disease called trichomoniasis and the numbers of this beautiful bird dropped by about 35%. Thankfully, though, the greenfinch is recovering. So, since we’ll be seeing more greenfinches in the garden soon, we thought we’d learned all there is to know about the female greenfinch in this article.

The plumage of the female greenfinch is light gray-brown with a yellowish underbelly. They also have some yellow on their wings, but their plumage is rather dull in color compared to the males. Although they differ in color, they are similar in size to males.

The differences between female and male greenfinches don’t stop with their plumage, though. As we will see, female greenfinches are very busy throughout the nesting season.

Like many other birds, female greenfinches build their own nests. They build their nests between April and August, with the females building their nests low to the ground. They are usually found in dense shrubs or hedges. They can even be found in hedges in our gardens.

Closeup of a female greenfinch perched on a branch

What does a female greenfinch look like?

Female greenfinch’s feathers are barely green. Instead, their plumage is a brownish gray with some dark yellow on the wings and rump. Both males and females have brown beaks and brown legs, so feathers are the best way to tell them apart.

Juvenile greenfinches look a lot like females, so it can be tricky to identify the sex of a greenfinch until they are mature and feathered.

During greenfinch nesting season (April to August), you may see far more females than males. However, this is most likely a juvenile greenfinch that has not yet fully fledged its feathers.

After a few months, the difference in plumage should be enough to determine the sex of female and male greenfinches in the garden.

Close-up of a female greenfinch

What is the Difference Between Male and Female Greenfinch?

Male greenfinches have dark olive-yellow plumage, turning greenish-yellow on the breast and underparts. They also have bright yellow flashes on their wings. Male is the name of this bird. Females have much duller plumage, with some yellow flashes on the wing and rump feathers. Despite this, most of their plumage is a dull brownish-gray.

The coloration of male and female greenfinches is the most noticeable difference and the best way to tell the sex apart most of the year. The plumage of juvenile greenfinches does, however, closely resemble that of females. This can make it more difficult to distinguish them by color difference during nesting season.

However, there are some behavioral differences between female and male greenfinches during nesting season that can help us tell them apart. A female greenfinch builds a nest. So if you see a green finch with twigs, moss, or other nesting material, it’s most likely a female.

Male (left) and female (right) greenfinch together at a bird feeder

behavioral difference

One of the biggest behavioral differences between female and male greenfinches is that the females build their own nests. This is common among smaller birds, and many female tits and finches are left to build their own nests.

Female greenfinches are expert nesters. They choose nesting sites close to the ground in dense hedges, hedgerows and bushes. They’ll then gather twigs and moss from their local environment to build a cup-shaped nest, weaving twigs to ensure a sturdy structure. Once complete, the female greenfinch covers the nest with moss and hair to protect her eggs.

Another notable behavioral difference between male and female greenfinches is that the females are responsible for incubating the eggs alone. Some male and female birds take turns keeping eggs warm, but female greenfinches take on this task alone. During the first 12-14 days of incubation, the male greenfinch will bring her food back to the nest.

Female greenfinch collecting nesting material

sing and call

The calls and singing patterns of male and female greenfinches are very similar. So much so that you can’t really tell the difference between their songs.

During the year, the males definitely sing much more than the females, and it is likely that the males are flirting with the females. Female greenfinches aren’t afraid to sing, though. So, if you have a very chatty green finch in your garden, it could be either gender.

The best way to tell greenfinches apart is their plumage, which in males is olive green with yellow stripes. Females are much darker in color, with little green in their plumage.

Female greenfinch feeding on sunflower seeds

nesting and feeding

During nesting, it is the female greenfinch that builds the nest. They build their nests out of twigs and moss, weaving the nest into a cup-shaped structure. Once the nesting cup is complete, the female covers it with moss and hair to protect the eggs.

She then incubates the eggs alone. This is the sole responsibility of the female greenfinches while other birds take turns incubating their eggs. The incubation process takes approximately 12-14 days. During this time, the male greenfinches bring back food from the nest for the female so that the female can focus on incubating her eggs.

There is not much difference in the eating habits of male and female greenfinches. However, this bird is very picky eater. If you’ve ever been to your feeding station and noticed lots of seeds all over the floor, it’s probably the work of a greenfinch.

They love black sunflower seeds and will often toss other seeds on the floor for sunflower seeds. Both males and females will use the feeding table, and greenfinches are now embracing the idea of ​​using hanging feeders.