Serin

Serinus serinus

A cheerful yellow songbird with a canary-like voice, this tiny finch brightens gardens and woodlands across Europe and North Africa.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Serin is a small, compact finch with a short, stubby bill. Males display bright yellow-green plumage on the face, throat, and breast, contrasting with brown-streaked upperparts. Their wings feature distinctive yellow wing bars.

Females are duller, with more subdued yellows and heavier streaking. Both sexes have forked tails and brownish-pink legs. Juveniles resemble females but have even less yellow colouration. During winter, both sexes' plumage becomes slightly duller.

Size

Length

11cm to 12cm

Wingspan

20cm to 23cm

Weight

10g to 15g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Yellow

Secondary Colour

Brown Grey Green

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Brown

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Yellow Grey Green

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Serin can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Serin can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Serin is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Serin is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Serin can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Serin can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Serin is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Serin is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Serin is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Serin is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Serin is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Serin is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Serins inhabit a wide range of open habitats across Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. They prefer areas with scattered trees, such as open woodlands, orchards, parks, and gardens.

In winter, many northern populations move southward, while those in southern Europe and North Africa tend to be resident. In the UK, Serins are rare visitors, mainly observed along the south and east coasts during migration periods.

Reports of UK breeding pairs are sporadic, with only one or two pairs noted each year. These sightings are limited to eastern and southern England, Devon, Dorset, Sussex and East Anglia, and occasionally on the Channel Islands.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Serin. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons