the Zeisig or Erlenzeisig is spread very incomplete in Europe and Asia by the paläarktischen as far as to the restrained zone and in higher mountain-situations. As well, the brood-occurrences are distributed very sporadically and from the present food-offer dependent. In the winter, whole swarms often meet, that as line - or also migratory birds rule-loosely, in order to settle in more favorable food-biotopes, wanders. Such areas can also in the subsequent brood-period like as brood-precincts is used. With acute food-lack, the Zeisige already advanced as far as to North-Africa and Iran; also from the detached East-Asian populations, mass-hikes became known.
Characteristics The Zeisig is a small, 12 cm long, sallow-green representative of the finches. Be able to serve as regulation-characteristics for the male of the yellow Bürzel and the black vertex. The female is colored less yellow altogether so that the darker Streifung finds the expression more strongly.
Way of life In not too dense spruce-forest or in Mischwäldern, the Zeisige position its nests, because here they find them in sufficient quantity for them as food of serving conifer-seeds like insects as well. The picture is typical, if the Zeisig, like like a titmouse, at the tap hangs and forth-pulls the seeds between the individual shed with the beak like with a tweezers.
In the winter, the Zeisig is to be found also in foliage-groves or parks. Hereupon, the name "Erlenzeisig" is to be led back since alder-seeds to this season form the main-food.
Brood At beginning, the Zeisig recites its chirping chant the incubation occasionally also during the bat-good Balzfluges. The nest becomes only in conifers, often built in big height (until 25 m). The bowl is together very careful put from thin Reisern, grass and moss and laid out with finer construction-materials indoors. During the brood and the male feeds some days after slipping of the 4 -6 giving birth; then, both alto-birds bring food and choke it highly before the boys from the crop. Since the incubation uses (March until May) early in the year, 2 yearly-broods can be reared.
Other types The Fichtenzeisig (Carduelis pinus) is comparable in the look and in the behavior as North American type the Erlenzeisig. Also in the northern South America, the group is represented by the Kapuzenzeisig (Carduelis cucullata, 11 cm of length).
In Central Europe, the Grünling or green-finch (Carduelis chloris) live; 14,5 cm of length, as biggest type of this type-group. it is especially frequent at many places. So the green-finch lives in gardens and parks and is to be found also in reaped fields as Körnerfresser in the winter.
Some types of the type Acanthis also carry the name Zeisig (Z). B. Birkenzeisig, Acanthis flammea, is classified among the linnets, however. Also Girlitze (type Serinus) sometimes become "Zitronenzeisig" o. ä. named.
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