Greenfinchs in England
When the Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) is present in England, when it nests, and which native England plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in England
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- April–July
- Size
- 15 cm, 28 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect greenfinchs in England
The Greenfinch lives in England all year round. Frosts are frequent but prolonged snow is rare in the south; garden feeders carry tits and finches through January and February, and Continental thrushes arrive in hard weather.
Temperate maritime: mild, damp and changeable, drier and sunnier in the south-east than the north-west.
Nesting in England
In England the Greenfinch usually nests April–July. Nest site: cup in dense shrubs or conifers. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days; chicks fledge after 13–16 days, and pairs raise 2 per year.
- The Greenfinch 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 England plants for greenfinchs
Of the native plants we track for England, these 8 provide food the Greenfinch uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Orange-red berries are a magnet for Blackbirds, thrushes and Waxwings from August.
Evergreen roosting cover and winter berries on female plants.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Hips persist into winter for thrushes and finches.
Translucent red berries in autumn.
Feeding in the garden
Seeds; also hips and berries.
- Best foods: Sunflower hearts, Black sunflower seed.
- Feeders: Tube feeder.
- Numbers crashed after trichomonosis — clean feeders weekly and pause feeding for two weeks if you see sick birds.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are greenfinchs in England all year?
Yes — the Greenfinch is resident in England all year.
When do greenfinchs nest in England?
Typically April–July. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days, with 2 per year.
Which native plants help greenfinchs in England?
Hawthorn, Rowan, Holly, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Dog rose, Guelder rose are native to England and provide food or cover the Greenfinch uses.
Greenfinchs in other countries
Other garden birds in England
Sources
- Greenfinch — RSPB bird guide
- Greenfinch — BTO BirdFacts
- Bird Atlas 2007–11 — British Trust for Ornithology
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.