Chaffinchs in Sweden
When the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) is present in Sweden, when it nests, and which native Sweden plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Sweden
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- May–June
- Size
- 14.5 cm, 24 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect chaffinchs in Sweden
The Chaffinch lives in Sweden all year round. Long, cold winters with snow; feeders keep tits, Nuthatches and finches going for months.
Temperate in the south, boreal across most of the country and subarctic in the far north.
Nesting in Sweden
In Sweden the Chaffinch usually nests May–June. Nest site: neat lichen-covered cup in a tree fork. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days; chicks fledge after 12–15 days, and pairs raise 1–2 per year.
- The Chaffinch 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 Sweden plants for chaffinchs
Of the native plants we track for Sweden, these 5 provide food the Chaffinch uses:
Catkin seed for Siskins and Redpolls; many caterpillars for tit broods.
Cones hold seed that Siskins and Goldfinches feed on all winter.
Supports more insect life than any other European tree; acorns for Jays.
Beechmast feeds Bramblings, Chaffinches and Nuthatches.
Hazelnuts for Nuthatches, Jays and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Feeding in the garden
Seeds; caterpillars for chicks.
- Best foods: Sunflower hearts, Seed mix.
- Feeders: Ground tray, Open table.
- Chaffinches prefer to feed on the ground below hanging feeders.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are chaffinchs in Sweden all year?
Yes — the Chaffinch is resident in Sweden all year.
When do chaffinchs nest in Sweden?
Typically May–June. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days, with 1–2 per year.
Which native plants help chaffinchs in Sweden?
Silver birch, Alder, Pedunculate oak, Beech, Hazel are native to Sweden and provide food or cover the Chaffinch uses.
Chaffinchs in other countries
Other garden birds in Sweden
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.