The citril finch was formally described by the German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas in 1764 under the binomial name Fringilla citrinella.

Sexes are similar, although young females may be duller below, and juvenile birds – unlike in the European Serinus species – are brown, lacking any yellow or green in the plumage.

While the mainland citril finch is rather restricted to subalpine coniferous forests and Alpine meadows, the insular Corsican finch may be found in different habitats from sea level to the highest mountain slopes.

The citril finch nests mainly in conifers such as pines (Pinus) and spruces (Picea) while the Corsican finch uses also lower bushes such as tree Heath (Erica arborea), juniper (Juniperus) and bramble (Rubus).

[8] Ranging more widely than its equally common eastern relative, the citril finch is classified as a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN.