Finches (Fringillidae)
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
- Length
- 14.5 cm
- Weight
- 24 g
- Clutch
- 4–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 11–13 days
- Fledging
- 12–15 days
- Broods
- 1–2 per year
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
Identification
- Male pinkish breast and blue-grey crown
- Female olive-brown
- Bold white wing bars and outer tail
Descending rattle ending in a flourish; 'pink-pink' call.
Diet and garden feeding
Seeds; caterpillars for chicks.
- Best foods: Sunflower hearts, Seed mix.
- Chaffinches prefer to feed on the ground below hanging feeders.
Nesting
Neat lichen-covered cup in a tree fork.
Chaffinchs by country
England
Resident all year · nests April–June
Scotland
Resident all year · nests May–June
Wales
Resident all year · nests April–June
Northern Ireland
Resident all year · nests April–June
Ireland
Resident all year · nests April–June
Netherlands
Resident all year · nests April–June
Belgium
Resident all year · nests April–June
Germany
Resident all year · nests April–June
France
Resident all year · nests April–June
Denmark
Resident all year · nests April–June
Sweden
Resident all year · nests May–June
Norway
Resident all year · nests May–June
Finland
Summer visitor · nests May–June
Spain
Resident all year · nests March–June
Portugal
Resident all year · nests March–June
Italy
Resident all year · nests March–June
Austria
Resident all year · nests April–June
Switzerland
Resident all year · nests April–June
Poland
Resident all year · nests April–June
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.