The goldfinch, a bird 12 cm in height, has a brown plumage with yellow bits on his wings and tail and a red dot on his face. Dearly appreciated for its distinct call, it lives in Mallorca´s Serra de Tramuntana and can be seen in the gardens and orchards inland.

It prefers to eat thistle seeds and occasionally small insects. This bird builds its nests, which consist of thin interwoven branches, in trees. The female goldfinch lays four to six eggs twice a year.

Goldfinches are winter migrants although some of them are sedentary.

They usually breed in Northern Europe and in the autumn migrate to Southern and Eastern Europe.

The “caderneres”, as they are called in Mallorqui, have to cross the Mediterranean in one go, which is an extremely big effort for such a small bird.