Chaffinch

The Chaffinch is one of Britain’s most common and colourful finches. The male is easy to recognise by its bright blue-grey head, pinkish-brown chest, and clear white patches on the shoulders and wings, which can be seen when it flies. Female Chaffinches are duller, with a brownish-olive colour, but they also have the distinctive white markings on their wings. Both males and females have a greenish patch on their lower back and white feathers on the outer edges of their tails. The bird flies with a bouncing motion and sings a cheerful, flowing song that ends with a flourish. Chaffinches are found all over the UK and much of Europe, stretching eastwards into Asia. They live in woodlands, hedgerows, parks, and gardens. They search for food on the ground, eating seeds and small creatures like insects. Outside the breeding season, they often gather in small groups. During winter, males and females tend to separate, with many females moving farther south than the males.