European Goldfinch

The introduced European goldfinch, or kōurarini, is a colourful seed-eater common in New Zealand open country. Adults have a red, white and black face, black wings with a bright yellow bar, and a buff-brown back; juveniles lack the red face but retain the yellow wing bar.

It occurs throughout New Zealand below about 500 m in farmland, coastal vegetation, riverbeds, plantations and towns, and is resident on the Chatham Islands. Flocks feed acrobatically on thistle and other weed seeds, with small invertebrates supplementing the diet during breeding.

Look around seeding thistles, weedy paddocks, orchards and river margins, especially outside the breeding season.