THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



The adult male Goldfinch has the general colour 

 of the upper parts chestnut-brown, shading into white 

 on the upper tail-coverts and into greyish white on the 

 nape ; the crown and a band round the ear-coverts 

 are black ; the forehead is crimson ; the feathers at the 

 base of the bill and the lores are also black ; the wings 

 are black, barred with yellow and tipped with white ; 

 the tail is black, the outer feathers with a white spot 

 on the inner web, the rest tipped with white ; the 

 throat is crimson, the remainder of the under parts 

 white, shading into brown on the flanks. Bill flesh- 

 colour, darkest at the tip ; tarsi and toes pinkish brown ; 

 irides brown. Length 53- inches. The female is a trifle 

 duller in colour than the male. The nestling lacks the 

 black and red on the head, the under parts are browner, 

 and the breast is faintly spotted. 



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