VOOUS KH (1951) Geographical variation of the Greenfinch (Chloris chloris). LIMOSA 24 (3): 81-91.

The Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) is one of the characteristic birds of the European fauna (fig. I ) . It ranges throughout the countries surrounding the mediterranean region . as far east as Asia Minor, Caucasia, Syria, western and northern Persia, southern Russian Turkestan. and N. Afghanistan (Balkh : Koelz 1939: Vaurie 1949) . from whence it spreads westwards and northwards to Ireland. Scotland. Sweden and Norway as far north as to about 65° North ("Förteckning over Sveriges Fåglar" . 1949: Lövenskiold 1947). In Pinland it is restricted to the southern cultivated regions (Kalela 1938). whereas in Russia it hardly crosses 60° North (Buterlin & Dementiev 1934). Eastwards it ranges as far as to the Ural Mountains. being very rare on the eastern slopes of these mountains. Family parties have been observed as far east as near Bogoslovks on the upper Tura River (Perm. Russia) . just east from the Ural Mountains. It does not actually penetrate into West-Siberia. although odd specimens have been observed near Tobolsk and Tomsk (Johansen 1944) .
      Summarizing it can be concluded that Chloris chloris is an exclusive member of the fauna of the European open deciduous and mixed forest-zone in its broad biogeographic sense. It prefers the edges of woods with an abundance of sunshine. rather than the forest itself and is particularly found in parklands. Small patches of woodland in cultivated lands. as well as high trees along road sides are its favorite nesting sites: gallery woods bordering rivers might have been its original ha unt in the whole of primeval central Europe.
      In the rather narrow mediterranean and southwestern Asiatic range a good deal of geographic variation has been recorded . This variation possesses both the characters of a cline and of variation through geographical isolation. All geographic variation in western. central. and northern Europe is - by its origin - of the clinal type. Details of the variation in Europe can only be understood from the variation of the mediterranean populations from which the present populations in the remaining parts of Europe have been directly derived. Therefore a condensed survey will be given on the geographical variation in the mediterranean region. followed by a similar survey on the geographical variation in Europe north from the Alps. Since I consider nomenclature as an auxiliary method and not as a zeal of systematic or zoogeo .. graphic work. questions concerning the use of trinominals will be here subordinated to the description of the nature and the discussion of the origin of the geographical variation. Reference will be made to the full treatises on the subj ect of geographical variation of Chloris chloris by Hartert (1903-22). Laubmann (1912 ). and Hartert& Steinbacher (1932).
      Geographical as well as local individual variation in Chloris chloris is of a quantitative type on ly. applying to (1) intensity of yellow or greenish yellow coloration of abdomen, under taiJ covert s. base of tail feathers. and edges to primaries. (2) intensity and tinge of green coloration of breast and throat. (3) intensity of green coloration of upper parts. (4) size. (5) relative proportion of length of ta il. Colour variation is mostly pronounced in adult males. but also in fem ales and birds in first plumage. Throughout the year the colour of the Greenfinches alters through feather-wear. the upper parts becoming brighter green and the abdomen brigther yellow after the brownish feather edges of the fresh autumn plumage gradually have disappeared. Hence. care should be ta ken to study birds of comparative seasons only. It is necessary furthermore to make com parisons only with specimens which are sure breeding birds. since the species is migratory in most parts of central and northern Europe. Consequently. wintering birds orig inating from dis tant countries are to be found among any series made outside the breeding time. Still colour cha racteristics enable the discrimination between winter visitors and residents in any series from southern Europe, provided a suffiCiently large comparative material being available. Although it is known that the wing length of birds in first winter plumage is a little smaller than that of older birds and notwithstanding a very small increase in length of wing occurs with growing age (SUTTER 1946) I have combined the measurements of first-year and older birds throughout this study. Carduelis chloris = Chloris chloris European Greenfinch

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