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European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

The European goldfinch is an introduced bird established in parts of Australia, where it is seen in open habitats and around towns and farms. It feeds on seeds and may compete with native seed-eating birds or feed on cultivated plants where it is abundant.

Key facts

Type: Pest animal, bird.

Native to: Europe, North Africa and western and central Asia.

Established in: NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA.

Other names: Goldfinch, Thistle finch, Carduelis carduelis.

Best time to act: Look for goldfinches year-round, particularly at seed-bearing plants and feeding sites, and check for nesting before any authorised control.

Identification

  • It is a small, compact finch with a short, conical bill.
  • Adults have a red face, black-and-white head and buff-brown back.
  • The black wings have a conspicuous bright yellow band and white spots near the tips.
  • Young birds lack the adult red face and have a streaked brown head, but show the yellow wing band.
  • Look-alike: Young birds can be confused with other streaky brown finches, but the yellow wing band is a useful distinguishing feature.

Where it lives

In Australia it uses open woodland, scrub, grassland, farmland, parks and gardens, especially where seed-bearing plants and trees are available.

Why it matters

  • It eats seeds from a range of plants, including thistles and other weeds, and may also feed on seeds from cultivated plants.
  • Where numbers are high, it may compete with native seed-eating birds for food.
  • The scale and significance of impacts can vary between sites.

How it spreads

  • Captive birds may escape or be deliberately released, and people can move birds between places.
  • Once established, goldfinches can disperse locally while feeding and breeding.

Control methods

  • Confirm the identification and record sightings, flock locations and any damage before planning action.
  • Reduce avoidable food sources, such as spilled seed, and use suitable bird-exclusion netting to protect vulnerable crops or plants.
  • Capture, nest removal or other physical control should only be undertaken using approved methods and after checking local requirements; do not use poison.
  • Contact the relevant state or territory biosecurity or wildlife agency for advice where there is a local management concern.

Site hygiene and welfare

  • Do not transport or release live birds, and secure aviaries so birds cannot escape.
  • Store bird seed securely and promptly clean up spilled seed that could attract feeding flocks.
  • Use methods set out in the national model codes of practice and standard operating procedures for the species.
  • Coordinate control with neighbours and the local government biosecurity plan, as isolated effort is quickly undone by reinvasion.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: General biosecurity duty. Not prohibited matter in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Declared animal. Declared animals have legal restrictions, which can cover keeping, moving, selling and releasing them, and landowners may be required to control them.
  • Western Australia: Permitted, not declared. Listed as a permitted organism in WA, so it can be brought in, but it is not a declared pest.
  • Tasmania: Not a declared pest. Not a declared pest or prohibited matter in Tasmania. Importing animals is still controlled by Biosecurity Tasmania.
  • Northern Territory: Prohibited entrant. Wildlife that is not native to the NT is a prohibited entrant, so you need an NT permit to bring it in or keep it. Report any wild sighting to the NT Government.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Australian Capital Territory: Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT), administered by ACT Biosecurity
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board

Sources