Bullfinchs in Italy
When the Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) is present in Italy, when it nests, and which native Italy plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Italy
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- March–July
- Size
- 15.5 cm, 21 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect bullfinchs in Italy
The Bullfinch lives in Italy all year round. Mild in the south; cold, foggy winters in the Po Valley.
Mediterranean on the coasts and south, continental in the Po Valley and Alpine in the north.
Nesting in Italy
In Italy the Bullfinch usually nests March–July. Nest site: flimsy twig cup in dense shrubs. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 14 days; chicks fledge after 15–17 days, and pairs raise 2 per year.
- The Bullfinch does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Italy plants for bullfinchs
Of the native plants we track for Italy, these 8 provide food the Bullfinch uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Orange-red berries are a magnet for Blackbirds, thrushes and Waxwings from August.
Evergreen roosting cover and winter berries on female plants.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Hips persist into winter for thrushes and finches.
Translucent red berries in autumn.
Feeding in the garden
Buds, seeds and berries.
- Best foods: Sunflower hearts.
- Feeders: Open table.
- Shy; feeds near thick hedges and eats ash keys and bramble seed.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are bullfinchs in Italy all year?
Yes — the Bullfinch is resident in Italy all year.
When do bullfinchs nest in Italy?
Typically March–July. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 14 days, with 2 per year.
Which native plants help bullfinchs in Italy?
Hawthorn, Rowan, Holly, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Dog rose, Guelder rose are native to Italy and provide food or cover the Bullfinch uses.
Bullfinchs in other countries
Other garden birds in Italy
Sources
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.