Common Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs

Common Chaffinch

Fringilla coelebs

Order : Passeriformes

Family : Fringillidae ;

Biometrics :

Size : 15 à 16 cm
Wingspan :
Weight : 19 à 24 g

Longevity : 14 years

IUCN conservation status :

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

Geographic range :

Synonyms : Zyablik (ru), Bofink (sv), Pinzón del Hierro (es), Fringuello (it), Buchfink (al), Vink (nl), Common Chaffinch (en)

Physical description :
Chaffinch adult male has pinkish underparts with whitish vent. Upperparts include chestnut-brown mantle and greenish rump. White wing bars form white patches on wing coverts. Tail has slate-grey central feathers, and others are black with white edges, mostly visible on outer feathers.
Crown and nape are blue-grey; it has pinkish cheeks and black forehead.
Bill is grey-blue in summer and pale brown in winter. Eyes are dark. Legs and feet are pale brown. In winter plumage, male keeps the same colours, but duller.
Female has grey-brown underparts, becoming whitish on lower belly. She has an olive-brown back, and greenish rump. She has the prominent wing pattern, less extensive than in male. Crown is brown, cheeks are grey-brown. Bill is brown.
Juvenile is similar to female, but it lacks green rump.

Voice :
Sound from CD 'Tous les Oiseaux d'Europe' by Jean C. Roché by courtesy of Sittelle and CEBA. Chaffinch's usual call is a sharp 'pink-pink'. Alarm call is a thin 'seee'. We can also hear a begging 'hweet', and a low 'choop-choop' in winter flocks when flying.
Its song is a short, vigorous series of descending notes, ending in a flourish 'chip-chip-chip-chip-chett-chett-chett-chett-diddip-diddiooo', with many variations. There are regional dialects.

Habitat : Chaffinch breeds in deciduous and coniferous woodlands, in parks, large gardens, orchards and hedgerows. It is often found in open farmlands outside breeding season.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE: Chaffinch lives in Europe to western Siberian, Middle-East, North Africa (distinct species) and Atlantic islands, where we find the endemic Blue Chaffinch (Canary Islands).

Behaviour : Chaffinch prefers to forage under bird-feeders, rarely on the table. It hops on the ground, foraging for seeds from the feeder. It walks with short and rapids steps.
Chaffinch is mostly sedentary. Juveniles may move only short distances from their native area. Northern populations tend to migrate southwards in winter, looking for food resources. These migratory birds are often seen in large flocks foraging in open farmlands. Resident birds remain in woodlands and hedgerows. Females tend to depart in winter.
Chaffinch is very territorial during breeding season. Male is aggressive and defends its territory, chasing away intruders or neighbours.
Pair stays together at least six weeks before to nest. Courtship displays turn to fight between male and female, but they feed close to each other on the ground.
Chaffinch male often sings from a high perch, but also in a low branch in tree, at the top of a scrub, even on the ground. Male may sing almost all year round, mostly between February and July.

Flight : Chaffinch has an undulating flight. During migration, they fly on very long distances. Even tired, they can fly with the wind. Male and female migrate in separated groups.

Reproduction-nesting : Chaffinch builds a beautiful nest in the fork of a tree or in a dense bush. It is a neat well camouflaged nest, made with grasses and lichens. The outside is covered with lichens, and the interior is lined with hair, feathers and wool. Nest is built by female alone.
Female lays 3 to 6 greyish-blue eggs, with purplish blotches. Incubation lasts about 11 to 15 days, by female. Chicks hatch over one to three days, and female broods them. They are fed by both parents, mainly with insects. Young fledge at about 10 to 16 days, but they are fed by both adults for three weeks more.
This species produces one or two broods per season.

Food habits : Chaffinch feeds on seeds, invertebrates, such as spiders, caterpillars and insects, and small fruits from trees and shrubs.

Protection / threats : Populations of Chaffinches were threatened in the 1950s, by the use of pesticides and herbicides. They are now widespread and common.

Other links :
Iucn
Birdlife

Specification sheet created by Nicole Bouglouan

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Updated on 2008/05/04 05:30:55 - © 1996-2008 Oiseaux.net