Abstract
The European serin (Serinus
serinus) is one of the most attractive
members of the serin genus, though it
i not commonly encountered in orth
American collections. It is the smallest
of the European finches , though it is
not the smallest serin. In the wild it is
found both in the countryside and in
towns. It ranges over most of Europe
from as far north as Britain, Scandinavia
Poland and the U. S.S.R. and is a
year round resident of southern
Europe and north Africa. The serin is
the clo est relative of the wild canary
(Serinus canarius) and hybrids of the
two species are fertile. At one time they
were even considered to be subspecies
of the same species.
The European serin measures
approximately 11 centimeters or 4- 1/2
inches in length. It is brownish and
green in color with heavy striations on
the breast of the hen and to a lesser
extent on the male. The birds are obviously
din10rphic. The male is bright
yellow on the breast, head and rump
and the intensity of the yellow
increases just before the onset of the
breeding season. The male is a persistent
songster and I find his song very
pleasing to my ear. It is definitely a
wild bird's song, somewhat resembling
a grey singing finch yet not as clear,
reminding me of the song of the European
skylark though not as glorious.
L. W. Restall, in his book " Finches and
Other Seed Eating Birds;' calls the serin
"a delightful bird ;' however, he warns
that the serin requires a careful acclimatization
after which it ''becomes
hardy and ultimately long lived~ '