Serin

Serinus serinus

Introduction

This small finch is typically a scarce visitor to the UK. Pairs occasionally breed in southern England and the Channel Islands.

These streaky yellow finches can often be pinpointed by their loud, scratchy song. Their breeding range extends across southern, central and eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. In northern parts of the breeding range, the species is partially migratory.

Serins are associated with coniferous woodland habitats, as well as agricultural areas, parks and gardens. They feed on seeds, buds, flowers and small invertebrates.

Key Stats

Rare

11.1g

3-4

<1%

BTO Records

3.6k records

Publications

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

-16.7% contraction

No data

No current data

100% expansion

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Serin

ID Videos

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This section features BTO training videos headlining this species, or featuring it as a potential confusion species.

Green finches in your garden

Songs and Calls

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Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Serin, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Song:

Flight call:

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Yes

Birds Directive Annex 1

Listed on the Annexes of*

WCA(I,IV), Bern(II)

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Hampshire, 1852

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Serin is an extremely rare breeding bird in the UK. There are only 14 confirmed breeding records, the majority from the early 1980s to mid-1990s and all coming from southern Britain; Serin first bred here in 1967 and last bred here in 2006, although there have been singing males present in other years [Holling 2023]. Small numbers of Serin, approximately 50 per year, are also seen on migration, mainly in spring [White & Kehoe 2024]. No trend information is available for the UK, but across Europe, the population is believed to be decreasing [EBCC 2015].

Distribution

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With a slowly expanding European range the Serin has been long predicted as a potential colonist of the UK. It has, however, remained a rare breeder. No confirmed breeding was recorded during 2008–11

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in breeding season

% occupied in breeding season

0.2%

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.4%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11)

-16.7 %

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

100 %

Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have changed through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading show places occupied.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Seasonality

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Serin is a scarce passage migrant and winter visitor.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Serin movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Serin, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Productivity and Nesting

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Nesting timing

Typical (exceptional) number of broods

Source

Egg measurements

Typical length x width

16x12 mm

Mass (% shell)

1.2g (6%)

Source

Clutch Size

Typical number

4-3 eggs

Observed minimum and maximum

2-5 eggs

Source

Incubation

Incubation by

Female (occ. Male?)

Typical duration

13-11 days

Source

Fledging

Type of chick

Altricial, downy

Typical duration

18-13 days

Source

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

lifespan

Typical life expectancy of bird reaching breeding age

3 years with breeding typically at 1 year

Survival of adults

All adults

0.6±0.08

Source

Biometrics

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Wing length and body weights are from live birds (source).

Wing length

Average ±1 std deviation; range and sample size in brackets.

Juvenile

71.4±2.7 mm

(68-75.5 mm, N=34)

All adults

70.9±2.2 mm

(67-74 mm, N=48)

Female

69.8±1.6 mm

(67-72 mm, N=28)

Body weight

Average ±1 std deviation; range and sample size in brackets.

Juvenile

71.4±2.7 mm

(68-75.5 mm, N=34)

All adults

70.9±2.2 mm

(67-74 mm, N=48)

Female

69.8±1.6 mm

(67-72 mm, N=28)

Ring Size

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Serin

Classification and Codes

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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Scientific name: Serinus serinus
Authority: Linnaeus, 1766

BTO 2-letter code: NS
BTO 5-letter code: SERIN
Euring code number: 16400

Alternate species names

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Catalan: gafarró europeu
Czech: zvonohlík zahradní
Danish: Gulirisk
Dutch: Europese Kanarie
Estonian: koldvint
Finnish: keltahemppo
French: Serin cini

German: Girlitz
Hungarian: csicsörke
Icelandic: Gulfinka
Irish: Seirín
Italian: Verzellino
Latvian: girlicis
Lithuanian: europinis svilikelis
Norwegian: Gulirisk

Polish: kulczyk (zwyczajny)
Portuguese: milheirinha
Slovak: kanárik polný
Slovenian: grilcek
Spanish: Serín verdecillo
Swedish: gulhämpling
Welsh: Llinos Frech

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Serin from BTO scientists.

Publications (1)

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The risk of extinction for birds in Great Britain

The UK has lost seven species of breeding birds in the last 200 years. Conservation efforts to prevent this from happening to other species, both in the UK and around the world, are guided by species’ priorities lists, which are often informed by data on range, population size and the degree of decline or increase in numbers. These are the sorts of data that BTO collects through its core surveys.

01.09.17

Papers

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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