Serins in Switzerland
When the Serin (Serinus serinus) is present in Switzerland, when it nests, and which native Switzerland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Switzerland
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- April–July
- Size
- 11.5 cm, 11 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect serins in Switzerland
The Serin arrives in Switzerland in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Warm summers with thunderstorms.
Temperate-continental in the plateau, Alpine in the mountains.
Nesting in Switzerland
In Switzerland the Serin usually nests April–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 Switzerland plants for serins
Of the native plants we track for Switzerland, 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 Switzerland all year?
No. The Serin is a summer visitor to Switzerland, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do serins nest in Switzerland?
Typically April–July. Clutches are 3–4 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days, with 2 per year.
Which native plants help serins in Switzerland?
Teasel, Silver birch, Alder are native to Switzerland and provide food or cover the Serin uses.
Serins in other countries
Other garden birds in Switzerland
Sources
- Serin — RSPB bird guide
- Serin — BTO BirdFacts
- Swiss Breeding Bird Atlas — Swiss Ornithological Institute
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.