male	male female European distribution male bathing

Identification

The male Chaffinch is distinctively coloured, especially in spring when the dull outer edges of his feathers wear away to reveal the striking blue head and pink breast. In all plumages though, Chaffinches are easily told by their unique combination of two broad white wing bars and obvious white outer tail feathers.

Habitat

Breeds in woodlands, parks, gardens and hedgerows. Winters in gardens and farmland, especially stubble fields.

Behaviour

The scientific name 'coelebs' means 'bachelor', a reference to the fact that, in winter, the females tend to migrate further than the males so that in parts of northern Europe the only Chaffinches left in winter are 'bachelor' males. Conversely, most of the migrant Chaffinches which reach Ireland are females.

Migration

Birds in the south and west, including Britain, are mostly sedentary but they are joined in winter by large numbers which migrate from their breeding grounds further north and east.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Chaffinch is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Zuoz, Graubünden, Switzerland 04/08/2010	Heysham, Lancs 19/07/2010	Stourton, Wilts 22/08/2010	Blackburn, Lancs 15/08/2010	New Forest, Hants 10/08/2010
Runcorn, Cheshire 11/08/2010	New Forest, Hants 10/08/2010	Loch Garten, Highland 01/08/2010	Dartmouth, Devon 12/08/2010	Buxton, Derbys 02/07/2010

 View all pictures of Chaffinch

Chaffinch breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Azores
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Canary Islands
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madeira
Malta
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob16360.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Chaffinch	Edit this link
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