The Brambling is sometimes described as the Chaffinch of the north, for in the pine and birch forests of Scandinavia it seems to replace the Chaffinch as the commonest bird. In all plumages, Bramblings can be recognised by the obvious orange on the breast extending across the shoulders onto their wings. In winter the head and mantle are usually a blotchy grey-brown but in some birds these wear away to produce a stunning black head, even before they depart back to Scandinavia. In flight they show a neat rectangular white patch down the rump as well as white and orange in the wing.

Breeds in birch and coniferous forests. Winters in woodland, especially beech, and on farms with stubble fields.

A very rare breeding bird in some years in Scotland - much more familiar as a winter visitor and passage migrant. Numbers of wintering birds are variable but can occur virtually anywhere. Passage migrants are most common on the east and south coasts, mainly between September-November and less abundantly between March-April.

In summer, they are one of the commonest birds of the forests of Scandinavia. In winter they occur widely throughout the rest of Europe but often concentrate into flocks in specific areas, so are far from ubiquitous.

©BirdGuides 1999