European Serin
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| Serinus serinus (Linnaeus, 1766) |
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 Range: orange, summer; green, all year; blue, winter
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The European Serin, or just Serin (Serinus serinus) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.
It is a small short-tailed bird, 11-12 cm in length. The upper parts are dark-streaked greyish green, with a yellow rump. The yellow breast and white belly are also heavily streaked. The male has a brighter yellow face and breast, yellow wing bars and yellow tail sides. The song of this bird is a buzzing trill, very familiar in Mediterranean countries.
It breeds across southern and central Europe and north Africa. Southern and Atlantic coast populations are largely resident, but the northern breeders migrate further south in Europe for the winter. Open woodland and cultivation, often with some conifers, is favoured for breeding. It builds its nest in a shrub or tree, laying 3-5 eggs. It forms flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixed with other finches.
The food is mainly seeds, and, in the breeding season, insects. This small serin is an active and often conspicuous bird.
[edit] References and external links
- BirdLife International (2004). Serinus serinus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- European Serin videos on the Internet Bird Collection
