The European serin, or simply the serin (Serinus serinus) name serinus comes from the French word serin for a canary – and may also be a corruption of the Latin word citrinus meaning "lemon-coloured". It is the smallest European species of the family of finches. A small finch with a short stubby bill and forked tails, both sexes have streaky yellow brown upper parts, paler streaked under parts and lemon yellow rumps. Males have bright yellow heads with darker patches on the crown and below the eye, females and juveniles are much duller. It breeds across southern and central Europe and North Africa.
