General

Serin: Small, active finch. Forehead, throat, breast, and rump are bright yellow; crown and cheeks are brown. Upperparts are streaked green and brown, underparts are white with brown streaks on the breast and flanks. Brown wings have yellow wing bars. Bill is grey to pink, legs and feet are pink. Female is more dull and brown, with less streaking and yellow on her rump. Juvenile is similar to the female but lacks yellow rump and is more brown overall.

Range and Habitat

Serin: Rare spring and fall migrant, usually seen in eastern or southern England. Breeds from the south of Sweden to North Africa and east to Israel and Russia. Northern birds migrate south for the winter, coastal birds are mostly resident. Prefers open woodland and farmland, parks and orchards.

Breeding and Nesting

Serin: Three to five pale blue eggs with purple specks are laid in a nest of grass, moss, and lichens bound by cobwebs. Female incubates eggs for 12 to 14 days; chicks fledge at 14 to 16 days and continue to be fed by both parents for another 6 to 7 days. Two clutches are normally laid each season.

Foraging and Feeding

Serin: Forages mostly on the ground and in trees, feeding primarily on seeds, such as dandelion, birch, grass seeds, and knotgrass. In the spring feeds on the young buds of trees and bushes. Takes invertebrates such as caterpillars, beetles, spiders and aphids during breeding season.

Vocalisation

Serin: Liquid and metallic collection of notes. Call is a high-pitched "tirrillilit," or "titteree;" also "tirrup," "tsooee" or "tsswee."

Similar Species

Serin: Siskin has prominent yellow wingbars with black borders, a more deeply notched tail, and a longer bill.