The chaffinch is a very common, sparrow-sized finch of gardens, woodland, parks and farmland. Chaffinches build neat, bowl-shaped nests in trees and shrubs. They feed on seeds and insects and will happily visit birdtables, but do not feed openly on feeders, preferring to hop about on the ground and under hedges instead. Chaffinches are present all year-round and more than 6 million pairs breed here in summer. They have a loud, pleasant song.
How to identify
The male chaffinch is one of the most colourful garden birds with a blue-grey crown, brown back and pink breast. Females are brown, but are less streaky than female house sparrows, and have white shoulder patches and wingbars.
Did you know?
The chaffinch is also known as the 'bachelor finch': the males spend the winter near to their breeding territories, while the females migrate further south.
