The adult male is quite unmistakeable with his rich red head and breast but in other plumages Rosefinches just look streaky-brown. Their bodies and especially their bills are too big for them to be confused with Redpolls; in fact they look more like sparrows or buntings but they have a unique combination of streaky underparts, a staring eye in a plain face and two narrow pale wingbars.

Breeds in scrubby areas, often near water.

A sporadic breeding bird, which occurs more familiarly as a scarce spring and autumn migrant, mostly on the east coast. Usually, up to 40 birds are found in the spring, with up to 75 in the autumn. The best sites for migrant birds are undoubtedly the Northern Isles, although the east coast sites such as Flamborough, Spurn and the Farne Islands annually attract them.

A very common bird in much of Poland and southern Finland, this bird is spreading westwards and has already reached Holland, Belgium and parts of northern France, though as yet in relatively small numbers. They are now well-established for example on the Dutch Wadden Islands.

©BirdGuides 1999