Common resident.

In the past large winter flocks of Greenfinches were often recorded from stubble fields and wasteland, where they fed on weed seeds. As these food sources have diminished due to the intensification of farming methods they now use gardens as a suitable alternative food source. 

Since 2005 Greenfinches have also been affected by a respiratory disease, trichomonsis, which has had an effect on their numbers.  

They were confirmed as breeding from six of Stevenage’s tetrads in the 1973 Breeding Atlas, nine in the 1992 Atlas and, six in the 2012 Atlas.

The 2012 Winter Atlas confirmed their presence from all 11 of the tetrads covering Stevenage.

At Watery Grove, the Common Bird Census recorded between one and four pairs holding breeding territories between 1972 and 1983, the peak of four territories being recorded in 1979. From 1984 to 1999 only their presence in the breeding season was recorded.

The following large flocks have been recorded: 200 at Brooches Wood on 30 October 1974; 100+ at Astonbury Wood during March and April 1975; 100+ at Astonbury Wood on 12 February and, 9 April 1977; 100+ at Monks Wood/Whomerly Wood on 6 March 1977; between 3 to 400 at Box Wood on 1 September 1979; approximately 100 roosted near the Railway Station on 24 February 2006 (where a regular winter roost had been established); 150 at the Glaxo site on 11 February 2014.

84 were ringed at Box Wood in August 1979, one ringed on 28 August 1979 was “controlled” at Garston, Watford on 3 March 1980 and, 94 were ringed at Box Wood in September 1979. A bird found dead at Shephall in 1980 had been ringed at Maidenhead, Berkshire.