European goldfinch

This bird in the finch family is native to Europe, North Africa and western and central Asia. The breeding male has a red face with black markings around the eyes, and a black-and-white head. The black wings have a broad yellow bar. The tail is black and the rump is white. Males and females are very similar, but females have a slightly smaller red area on the face.

The goldfinch is often depicted in Italian Renaissance paintings of the Madonna and Child.