Mondoñedo Goldfinch

Goldfinch soft toy, measures approx. 6.7'' (17cm)

Known in Galician as Xílgaro, Pintasilgo and Pintacardos, the Goldfinch is know for its pleasant tinkling medley of trills and twitters.

Mondoñedo writer Alvaro Cunqueiro compared the twittering of the Goldfinch with the beauty of the Galician Celtic fairies:

A máis da roca e do fuso de ouro,
as fadas teñen sempre un peine do mesmo,
co que acostuman a peitearse,
e tamén coma o peite das sireas do mar,
ó pasar polo cabelo fai música,
i escóitase á mañanciña o doce son,
un xílgaro trinador.

Besides their golden spinner weasel,
fairies also have a comb made of gold,
which they use to comb their hair,
like the comb used by the mermaids,
and as the comb touches their hair,
early in the morning you can hear a pleasant sound,
like a goldfinch twittering.
(Alvaro Cunqueiro)