Home » Pets & Animals

Chaffinches

1 Like

Like 1

Pin It

Ranked #18,143 in Pets & Animals, #520,847 overall

Information about the Chaffinch (fringilla coelebs)

The chaffinch is the most common finch in the UK and, although rarely seen gracing the bird-feeder, is often seen foraging on the ground and under the hedges of parks and gardens. A bright, colourful visitor that really cheers up the garden.

Description

The male chaffinch has a pink breast and face with a grey-blue crown and nape. The back is olive-brown in colour and the wings are black with white bars that are strikingly visible when in flight.

The female chaffinch is less brightly coloured, being an olive-brown colour rather than pink, and having none of the head markings. The females also have the striking white wing feathers that distinguish them in flight.

The overall length is around 14cm, the wingspan around 25cm, and the weight around 25g.

Habitat and Distribution

Chaffinches live in woodland (deciduous and coniferous), farmlands, hedges, parks and gardens all over Europe, Northern Africa and Western Asia. There are also isolated colonies that were introduced by British travellers to Southern Africa and Southern Asia.

Chaffinches are not generally migratory but there is documented evidence of localised evacuation from colder climates, sometimes by the females only.

Diet

Adult chaffinches feed almost exclusively on seeds but they do take insects and caterpillars in the breeding season to feed their young.

Nesting

Chaffinches generally nest in April or May and build a cup-shaped nest of moss, grass and bark strips lined with feathers and for, usually in the fork of a tree or bush.

Producing one or two clutches of 2-8 eggs, light-blue with brown flecks and about 20mm in length, incubation is performed by the female with both parents performing feeding duties.

The incubation period is around 10-14 days and fledging occurs around 12-18 days later. The young are fed on insects and caterpillars.