Chaffinch Factfile
Latin name
Distribution
The Chaffinch occurs across virtually all of the UK.
Habitat
Chaffinches are adaptable to different habitats, which include woodland, edges of commercial conifer plantations, parks, farmland with hedgerows and gardens.
UK Population
There are around 6,200,000 breeding pairs of Chaffinch in the UK, though the number of Chaffinches greatly increasing in the winter months as birds migrate into the UK from mainland Europe.
The Chaffinch is the second most common breeding bird in the UK, and also one of the tamest. Indeed, when fed regularly in gardens, this colourful finch will come incredibly close to humans, and to the point they can, sometimes, be fed from the hand. The male Chaffinch has a much more colourful plumage in comparison to the much drabber female bird, with the male’s colours becoming even more pronounced as the breeding season approaches, then losing some of the lustre after it finishes. Chaffinches are very easy to attract to gardens and will eat a wide range of foods, though tend to prefer feeding on the ground or a bird table rather than hanging feeders, though will readily use hanging feeders with circular perches as they act as something of a platform (they find straight perches difficult to balance on).
Video footage of Chaffinches
Chaffinch nesting and breeding habits
It is the female Chaffinch that builds the nest which is usually sited in the fork of a small tree or in shrubbery, and is made from dry grasses, spiders’ webs and then covered in moss and lichen to blend in with the area and therefore is more camouflaged. The female Chaffinch alone incubates the eggs, though both parents feed the young. Chaffinches have one to two broods each breeding season, with the clutch size being 4-5 eggs.
Chaffinch history and population trends
Numbers of Chaffinches increased considerably from the 1970s to around 2005, though the population then took a fairly major hit with the outbreak of trichomonosis (which especially affects Chaffinches and Greenfinches). Overall though, the population of Chaffinches is strong and slightly up on historic records, with this positive trend partly attributed to the species’ adaptability to different habitats relative to other species.
Behaviour traits of Chaffinches
Chaffinches are highly social and gregarious, and will not only flock as a single species but also with others and, notably, Bramblings in the winter months. Interestingly though, Chaffinches also have a tendency to form largely single-sex flocks – so either largely male or female Chaffinches. Another notable behaviour of Chaffinches in the UK is their tameness, and along with this becoming a trait with regular garden feeding, it can also be seen around car parks, outdoor cafes and picnic areas etc.
Chaffinch diet and food
The diet of the Chaffinch is very varied and this no doubt has a bearing on the success and widespread distribution of the species. Natural foods of the Chaffinch include seeds, fruit, buds and shoots, plus insects, spiders, earthworms and snails eggs. This adaptability also extends to foods put out for them in the garden, and Chaffinches will eat everything from chopped peanuts to sunflower hearts, and any of our seed mixes to any of the suet products. However, Chaffinches tend to be happier feeding on the ground, a ground table or normal bird table, but will use tube seed feeders and in particular if they have round perches.
What should I feed Chaffinches?
We recommend the following products to help attract Chaffinches to your garden.
Bird Food
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the colours of a Chaffinch?
The male Chaffinch is much more colourful that the female, with a blue-grey cap, rusty red face and breast, plus distinctive double white wing stripes. The female Chaffinch is brown overall, but also has the white wing stripes.
How do you attract Chaffinches to the garden?
Chaffinches are fairly easy to attract to gardens, and are also one of the tamest songbirds around. Chaffinches will use hanging tube feeders, but are typically more comfortable feeding on the ground, a ground feeder tray, or bird table. The best foods to attract Chaffinches are sunflower hearts, seed mixes and chopped peanuts.
Where do Chaffinch nest?
Chaffinches build their neat and round nest in a bush, shrub or sometimes a tree if it has plenty of fairly dense foliage. The nest is a delicate affair, and made from grass, moss and spiders webs, then finally lined with feathers.
Why do Chaffinches sing?
Like all songbirds, male Chaffinches sing to attract a mate and to mark their breeding territory.
What are the predators of the Chaffinch?
The main natural predator of the Chaffinch is the Sparrowhawk, though the main actual predator – and certainly in gardens – is sadly the domestic cat.
What is the size of a Chaffinch?
The Chaffinch is a medium sized species of finch, with a length of around 14.5 cm, and a wingspan of between 24.5 and 28.5 cm.