The greenfinch (or green linnet) is a large stocky finch with a distinctly forked tail. It's about the size of a great tit. In summer, the adult male is mostly olive-green except for yellow edges to their outer primary wing feathers and tail feathers, and a more yellow rump. The coverts, cheeks and undertail coverts are greyish. During the winter, the male becomes duller.The adult female has grey-brown, slightly streaky upperparts, the underparts are tinged with yellow and there is less yellow on the wings and tail than the male..

They have a wheezy song, "dzweee". In flight, which is very bounding, its call is a repetitive "chichichichit".

Greenfinches nest in colonies in dense shrubs. The nest is made from twigs and grass, and lined with fine roots and hair, and built by the female.