THE GREENFINCH 
LIGURINUS CHLORIS 
Loca names in surrounding counties : “ Green Linnet ” 
(Essex). 
Stratus iN Brirish AvirAunA: A common and widely 
distributed resident throughout well-cultivated and 
timbered districts, its numbers increased in autumn by 
migrants. 
RapraL DistRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Pauw’s: The Greenfinch may fairly be described as a 
common resident in every part of the Metropolitan area 
at all suited to its requirements. It nests regularly in 
many of the urban parks, from Regent’s Park and Battersea 
Park outwards, and there are few private grounds con- 
taining evergreens throughout the inner suburbs to which 
it does not resort. As the surroundings become more 
rural the bird becomes increasingly common as a nesting 
species. In winter it is even more widely dispersed, and 
may then be seen in still more central districts. I have 
records of this Finch from the Green Park, St. James’s 
Park, Victoria Park, Russell Square, and Lincoln’s Inn. 
In the more outlying suburbs flocks are often observed, 
and the bird frequently associates with Sparrows and 
other seed-eating species. Possibly some of the straggling 
individuals may be migrants, and many of the flocks seem 
undoubtedly to be so. ‘The Greenfinch, I may add, 
haunts several of the great cemeteries in London. I 
have seen it in those of Kensal Green, Brompton, and 
Highgate. 
The tremulous, twittering song of the Greenfinch is a 
by no means uncommon sound close to inner London 
during April and May. It may lack the sweetness and 
variety of other homely species, but when several birds 
are warbling in concert the effect is very pleasing. 
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