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Birds by name

Chaffinch

Conservation status: Green

The chaffinch is the UK's second commonest breeding bird, and is arguably the most colourful of the UK's finches. Its patterned plumage helps it to blend in when feeding on the ground and it becomes most obvious when it flies, revealing a flash of white on the wings and white outer tail feathers. It does not feed openly on bird feeders - it prefers to hop about under the bird table or under the hedge. You'll usually hear chaffinches before you see them, with their loud song and varied calls.

Overview

Latin name

Fringilla coelebs

Family

Finches (Fringillidae)

Where to see them

Around the UK in woodlands, hedgerows, fields, parks and gardens anywhere.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Insects and seeds.

Population

EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*
-5,974,000 territories--

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Key

In the UK
All UK

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Illustrations

Audio

Patrik Aberg, Xeno-canto

Characteristics

Chaffinch

Chaffinch - male
  • Colouring: Male
  • Size: robin-sized or smaller
  • Feather colours: brown, black, white, blue, red, orange, grey, cream/buff, green, yellow, pink/purple
  • Beak colours: black/dark grey, brown/buff, blue
  • Beak length: short
  • Beak thickness: short
  • Leg colour: brown, pink/flesh
  • Behaviour: on feeder, part of flock, on ground, wagging or flicking tail, bird hops on the ground, catches insects in flight

Chaffinch

Chaffinch - female
  • Colouring: Female
  • Size: robin-sized or smaller
  • Feather colours: brown, black, white, grey, cream/buff, green, yellow
  • Beak colours: black/dark grey, brown/buff, blue
  • Beak length: short
  • Beak thickness: short
  • Leg colour: brown, pink/flesh
  • Behaviour: on feeder, part of flock, on ground, wagging or flicking tail, bird hops on the ground, catches insects in flight

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