Goldfinchs in Norway
When the Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is present in Norway, when it nests, and which native Norway plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Norway
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- May–August
- Size
- 12 cm, 16 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect goldfinchs in Norway
The Goldfinch arrives in Norway in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Short summers with midnight sun in the north.
Mild maritime on the Gulf Stream coast, cold continental inland and Arctic in the north.
Nesting in Norway
In Norway the Goldfinch usually nests May–August. Nest site: neat cup far out on a branch. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days; chicks fledge after 13–18 days, and pairs raise 2–3 per year.
- The Goldfinch does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Norway plants for goldfinchs
Of the native plants we track for Norway, these 2 provide food the Goldfinch uses:
Catkin seed for Siskins and Redpolls; many caterpillars for tit broods.
Cones hold seed that Siskins and Goldfinches feed on all winter.
Feeding in the garden
Small seeds from teasel, thistle and knapweed.
- Best foods: Nyjer seed, Sunflower hearts.
- Feeders: Nyjer feeder, Tube feeder.
- Leave teasel and knapweed heads standing through winter.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are goldfinchs in Norway all year?
No. The Goldfinch is a summer visitor to Norway, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do goldfinchs nest in Norway?
Typically May–August. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days, with 2–3 per year.
Which native plants help goldfinchs in Norway?
Silver birch, Alder are native to Norway and provide food or cover the Goldfinch uses.
Goldfinchs in other countries
Other garden birds in Norway
Sources
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.