In nature, the European goldfinch feeds on seeds, buds, and fruits, and sometimes it eats insects and worms. A study conducted in 2016 on goldfinch living in Australia concluded that the goldfinch eats 33 plants and 10 types of insects in nature, and the study concluded that the goldfinch’s diet in Australia is similar to its diet in Europe.
What types of seeds does the European goldfinch eat in the wild?
Among the seeds that the European goldfinch eats from the plant in nature are:
- Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a plant native to Europe and the Mediterranean and grows in Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Tunisia, Morocco, and Mauritania.
- Common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) is a plant that grows in North America (Canada and the states), Western Asia (Iran, Afghanistan), Europe in general, and many Arab countries, including Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria.
- Thistle seed (Silybum marianum) is a spiny plant native to the Mediterranean region, Russia, and parts of Asia. The sheep grows in several Arab countries, namely Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and most North African countries.
- Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) is native to North Africa, Europe, and Western Asia, and it grows in several Arab countries, namely Syria, Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
- Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is native to Europe and northern Asia and is native to North America. This plant is found in a limited way in Syria and Lebanon on the muddy hills.
What types of insects does the goldfinch eat in the wild?
One of the most important insects that the goldfinch feeds on in nature, especially in the spring with the commencement of the breeding season, are beetles caterpillars, and aphids.
What are the types of seeds offered to captive goldfinch?
The most noteworthy seeds that are offered to the goldfinch inside the cage include:
- Niger
- Hemp
- Flaxseed
- Canary seed
- Perilla
- Peeled oats
- Lettuce
- White millet
- Aniseed
- Rapeseed
- Spinach
- Radish
- Sunflower
The best fruits, vegetables, and other foods for European goldfinches
The most important vegetables, fruits, and other useful and safe foods provided to the captive goldfinch are:
Boiled corn, radish leaves, watercress, spinach, broccoli, hot peppers, sweet peppers, boiled or raw grated carrots, boiled sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, watermelon, grapes, figs, berries, apples, and boiled eggs.