Serins in Portugal
When the Serin (Serinus serinus) is present in Portugal, when it nests, and which native Portugal plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Portugal
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- March–July
- Size
- 11.5 cm, 11 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect serins in Portugal
The Serin lives in Portugal all year round. Mild, wet winters that attract many wintering European songbirds.
Mediterranean with strong Atlantic influence, wetter in the north.
Nesting in Portugal
In Portugal the Serin usually nests March–July. Nest site: cup in trees. Clutches are 3–4 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days; chicks fledge after 14–16 days, and pairs raise 2 per year.
- The Serin 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 Portugal plants for serins
Of the native plants we track for Portugal, these 3 provide food the Serin uses:
Goldfinches extract the seeds from standing heads in autumn and winter.
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.
- Best foods: Nyjer.
- Feeders: Nyjer feeder.
- A common town bird of southern Europe.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are serins in Portugal all year?
Yes — the Serin is resident in Portugal all year.
When do serins nest in Portugal?
Typically March–July. Clutches are 3–4 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days, with 2 per year.
Which native plants help serins in Portugal?
Teasel, Silver birch, Alder are native to Portugal and provide food or cover the Serin uses.
Serins in other countries
Other garden birds in Portugal
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.