The goldfinch mainly feeds on plant seeds, most often the seeds of thistle, burdock, and dandelion. In summer, it occasionally catches small insects. The method of obtaining food is pecking seeds from dry inflorescences. Its diet consists of thistle seeds, burdock seeds, dandelion seeds, seeds of other grasses, small insects, seed, insect, and seed. The feeding strategy involves active hunting, searching for, and acquiring food. Daily food requirements range from 2 g to 5 g. Prey includes beetles, butterflies, diptera, hymenoptera, bedbugs, orthoptera, dragonfly, mayfly, and netswing. Enemies of the species (that hunt it) are wolves.