Brambling

The Brambling is a sturdy finch about the same size as its close relative, the Chaffinch. It is marked by its bright orange-brown breast and shoulder patches. During the breeding season, males have a shiny blue-black head and back. In winter, both males and females show duller brown colours with noticeable white rumps visible when they fly. The bird also has pale wing bars and a dark tail. The Brambling visits the UK in winter, coming from its breeding areas in Scandinavia and Siberia. They arrive from October onwards and often gather in large groups that can number in the thousands. They prefer beech woods where there are plenty of beech nuts, but they also visit farmland, hedgerows, and gardens, especially during cold weather. Their numbers and presence can change a lot from year to year depending on how many beech nuts are produced across northern Europe. The Brambling’s flight call is a distinctive nasal sound, described as "tchweep" or "yeck". This call often gives away their presence when they are flying in mixed groups of finches.