(Common) Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs

Chaffinches are one of the commonest birds in Britain and Europe and can be found in a range of habitats. They are often kept at songbirds on the continent and their 'vink, vink' call is what originally gave them their name in English, German and Dutch (finch, fink and vink, respectively). Chaffinches can be common garden birds, usually ground feeding from trays or from bits dropped by other birds from feeders. Males have a bright reddish-brown breast and grey cap while females are pale brown. Both sexes have distinctive white wing bars, which can help identify them in flight. 14-16 cm.

male Common Chaffinch

Common Chaffinch  Common Chaffinch

female Common Chaffinch

Common Chaffinch  Common Chaffinch

1: RSPB Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, 17/05/2005.
2: RSPB Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, 26/03/2005.
3: Bisley Ranges, Surrey, 01/04/2006.
4: Chard Reservoir, Somerset, 03/03/2007.
5: RSPB Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, 14/05/2005.
6: Chard Reservoir, 21/01/2007.