Eurasian Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
The Eurasian Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) is a common finches, euphonias, and alli found in 86 countries, weighing about 24 g. The Eurasian chaffinch, common chaffinch, or simply the chaffinch is a common and widespread small passerine bird – in the finch family.
About the Eurasian Chaffinch
The Eurasian chaffinch, common chaffinch, or simply the chaffinch is a common and widespread small passerine bird – in the finch family. The male is brightly coloured with a blue-grey cap and rust-red underparts. The female is more subdued in colouring, but both sexes have two contrasting white wing bars and white sides to the tail. The male bird has a strong voice and sings from exposed perches to attract a mate.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Eurasian chaffinch is about 14.5 cm (5.7 in) long, with a wingspan of 24.5–28.5 cm (9.6–11.2 in) and a weight of 18–29 g (0.63–1.02 oz). The adult male of the nominate subspecies has a black forehead and a blue-grey crown, nape and upper mantle. The rump is a light olive-green; the lower mantle and scapulars form a brown saddle. The side of head, throat and breast are a dull rust-red merging to a pale creamy-pink on the belly. The central pair of tail feathers are dark grey with a black shaft streak. Voice: Songs Males typically sing two or three different song types, and there are regional dialects also. The acquisition by the young Eurasian chaffinch of its song was the subject of an influential study by British ethologist William Thorpe.
What the Eurasian Chaffinch sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Canada, Australia, Mauritania.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Eurasian Chaffinch?
- The Eurasian chaffinch is about 14.5 cm (5.7 in) long, with a wingspan of 24.5–28.5 cm (9.6–11.2 in) and a weight of 18–29 g (0.63–1.02 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Eurasian Chaffinch?
- The Eurasian Chaffinch is a small sized bird weighing about 24 g.
- Where can you see a Eurasian Chaffinch?
- The Eurasian Chaffinch occurs in 86 countries, including France, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Finland and Germany.
- What does a Eurasian Chaffinch sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Eurasian Chaffinch on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Eurasian Chaffinch?
- The Eurasian Chaffinch is most easily confused with the Brambling, the Azores Chaffinch and the African Chaffinch.
Learn the Eurasian Chaffinch for real
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