African Chaffinch vs Canary Islands Chaffinch

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

Canary Islands Chaffinch

Fringilla canariensis

The Canary Islands chaffinch is similar in size to the Eurasian chaffinch at around 15–16 cm long, but differs markedly in plumage of the male, with a dark blue-grey mantle, and lighter pink face and breast, and whiter belly and undertail. As with all chaffinch species, the female is duller brown. The bill is similar to Eurasian and African chaffinches, not distinctly large like the related Azores chaffinch.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Elias · CC BY 4.0

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