Bird Guide

African Chaffinch vs Brambling

African Chaffinch (Fringilla spodiogenys)

African Chaffinch

Fringilla spodiogenys

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The African chaffinch is a medium to large finch that is typically 13.8–18.5 cm (5.4–7.3 in) in length and weighs 21–24 g (0.74–0.85 oz). Males and females have different characteristics. The adult male has a blue-grey head with a small patch of black above the bill on the forehead, and a moss-green mantle (the mantle very distinct from the reddish-brown of Eurasian chaffinch, and also lacking the reddish cheeks of that species); its wings are black with two bold white stripes and white edges to the tertials and secondaries; the tail is blue-grey with white sides.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Adi Peter · CC BY 4.0
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)

Brambling

Fringilla montifringilla

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The brambling is similar in size and shape to a common chaffinch. Breeding-plumaged male bramblings are very distinctive, with a black head, dark upperparts, orange breast and white belly. Females and younger birds are less distinct, and more similar in appearance to some chaffinches.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Brambling
Recorded by Lionel Triboulin · Call · Arrondissement de Dieppe (near Beauvoir-en-Lyons), Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France · CC0
Photo: Gabriele Vaudano · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: African Chaffinch and Brambling.