GOLDFINCH CROSSES

The most popular and most colourful of all our finches, an excellent songster and readily crosses with most species, luckily for us, as some of the best coloured hybrids come from Goldfinches. Both sexes are similar, the hens blaze above generally does not pass beyond the eye, but this is not always the case, a better indication of sex is the wing butts, the males are black where as the hens are brownish black, the black streak down the beak disappears when the bird is in breeding condition also the bird "proud tails", swishes their tail from left to right, and shrilling (short burst of song) at the same time. Cocks can have a tendency to pierce small holes in the eggs if left with the female, especially in a cage.

4 to 6 eggs, which hatch 13 to 15 days after incubation, young fledge at 14 days and are self supporting at 28 days

	GOLDFINCH CROSSES	Yellow Goldfinches
	The most popular and most colourful of all our finches, an excellent songster and readily crosses with most species, luckily for us, as some of the best coloured hybrids come from Goldfinches. Both sexes are similar, the hens blaze above generally does not pass beyond the eye, but this is not always the case, a better indication of sex is the wing butts, the males are black where as the hens are brownish black, the black streak down the beak disappears when the bird is in breeding condition also the bird "proud tails", swishes their tail from left to right, and shrilling (short burst of song) at the same time. Cocks can have a tendency to pierce small holes in the eggs if left with the female, especially in a cage. 4 to 6 eggs, which hatch 13 to 15 days after incubation, young fledge at 14 days and are self supporting at 28 days
Goldfinch Cock owned by John Ball	COLOUR VARIANT GOLDFINCHES CLICK HERE	BREEDING PAGES CLICK HERE
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Status and distribution Widespread and generally very common throughout Region. Breeds in the British Is and from western France and Iberia east across Europe to the Caspian Sea and Urals stretching north to southern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland and in Russia north to about 63°N. In the south breeds on most larger Mediterranean islands, Turkey, the Caucasus and Near East, also on the Azores, Madeira and Canary Is, North-West Africa, parts of coastal Libya and in the Nile Valley. Northern & eastern populations are migratory, leaving Sep-Oct to winter mainly within range of southern breeders and returning Mar-Apr. Subspecies Several races occur in the Region but all are very similar. Nominate race is found over much of Europe with slightly smaller parva in South-West Europe, North-West Africa and the Atlantic Is. British Is race britannica, also found in Netherlands is slightly darker brown, South-West Asian race niedecki paler and greyer and Caucasian loudoni is distinctly darker brown above. Habitat Open woodland and forest, woodland edges and hedgerows, orchards, gardens and sometimes town parks. Also in dry scrub, steppe and semi-desert in parts of range.
	DARK YELLOW GOLDFINCH MULE The bird on the right would be the ultimate in mule breeding the clear mule showing no dark marks unfortunately this bird does carry dark marks. The bird on the left is a dark goldfinch mule this is the most common mule bred, for song, exhibition and pet trade this cross is very attractive and a must if attempting to mule
	GOLDFINCH X GREENFINCH Lovely hybrid which can do very well on the show bench shows both parentage very well the bird on the left does not do this cross justice and shows a common neck fault which is seen often with goldfinch crosses this is the best way round to breed this hybrid The bird on the right was owned by Alan Carter and this picture was taken at Staffordshire B.B. & M.C.1992
	GOLDFINCH X CHAFFINCH Very difficult to produce this cross only a few have ever been bred unfortunately this bird is quite drab although shows both parentage well.the picture on the left was taken at Yorkshire BB&HC show 1991 not a good picture but the only one available at this time
	GOLDFINCH X LINNET Picture supplied by Aux Fringill'idees http://stephane.schlub.free.fr/" Quite easy to produce looks like a more colourful linnet with a red blaze excellent songster but of little use on the show bench
	GOLDFINCH X TWITE similar in appearance to the linnet x goldfinch with the short beak of the twite. Sid Humphries bred this Cross using the Twite hen in 1961 according to an article in Cage & aviary Birds, From the front view it looks exactly like a young Greypate Goldfinch, but side view this promising youngster resembles a young Twite except for the wingbars and buttons, which are somewhat darker than those of pure Goldfinch. There is also some bright yellow on the flights. The bird appears to be a cock and should later show some signs of a blaze, although this maybe a small as in the Goldfinch x Linnet cross. Picture on the left: This Goldfinch x Twite was bred by William Walsh in 1995 one of 3 bred and reared, this is the only photo of this cross I have seen Willie describes this Hybrid, this is a yellow cock it is masked with the brown of the Twite with the Goldfinch wings but did not have the buttons it showed a half blaze above the beak the bird resembled a miniature Goldfinch x Linnet, that year he bred 2 yellow cocks and a buff hen, The buff hen was drab with washed out colour and no blaze at all.
	GOLDFINCH X SISKIN (thanks for the picture Charlie) Not as colourful as one would expect but very friendly and easy to breed
	GOLDFINCH X REDPOLL Excellent hybrid its rich bright colours contrast beautifully with the habits of the redpoll easy to breed and well worth breeding this popular cross
NO PICTURE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME IF YOU CAN HELP WITH ONE PLEASE EMAIL ME	GOLDFINCH X BRAMBLEFINCH I have never seen this cross and doubt that it has ever been produced yet but i think it will so well worth a try
	GOLDFINCH X BULLFINCH Again as with most crosses produced with the bullfinch hen another excellent bird next to the linnet x bullfinch probably the easiest bullfinch cross to produce and very colourful tame and a good bird for the show bench a must try. Bird on the right owned and bred in 1998 by John Ball
	GOLDFINCH X CROSSBILL This Bird was exhibited at Pescara Italy in 1999 the bird shows both parents well would have been richer in colour if colour fed. Another was shown at the world show 2002 in Belgium bred the other way round Crossbill cock so I believe
GOLDFINCH FEEDING TECHNIQUES SEED: good British finch mix including a small amount of hemp, pine nuts, niger, maw, gold of pleasure also a good multi vitamin with added probiotic. REARING: soaked seed, egg food, a supply of green food and small amounts of live food, when rearing young, fresh water daily and mineralised grit with a small amount of charcoal added.