Chaffinch

Rí Rua

Status

Resident, augmented by winter visitors. One of Ireland's top 20 most widespread garden birds.

Identification

The male's breast, face and underside are a pinkish orange-brown, becoming a darker, wine shade in winter. The nape and crown are blue-grey. The upper back is warm brown, while the lower back/rump is a contrasting green tone, usually hidden by the bird's folded wings when perched. The female is much greyer, with washed out warm grey underparts. Both sexes display large white patches on otherwise blackish wings, both when perched and flying - this makes identification quite striaghtforward even at some range. Both sexes also have a longish tail, which shows a dark centre and white outer feathers in flight.

Voice

Song a loud, full, bubbly string of notes, starting high and descending throughout, ending with a flourish resembling a wolf whistle. The song is repeated many times. Call a loud "pink" and in flight a subdued short, mellow whistle.

Diet

Mainly seeds, split grain, beechnuts. Feeds young on insects. Will visit bird tables and feeders

Breeding

Breeds throughout Ireland - mainly in or near woodland, but also in parks and gardens. Nest, of moss and dried grass - often camouflaged with lichens and cobwebs, in a fork near end of branch.

Wintering

Widespread