Despite its vibrant plumage, this shy and quiet bird is hard to spot.
Bullfinch facts
Scientific name: Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Family: Fringillidae
Diet: Seeds, buds and berries. Occasionally they eat small invertebrates, and feed insects to their young for protein
Predators: Sparrowhawks and larger birds of prey
Size: 14.5-17.5cm with a 22-29cm wingspan
Weight: Up to 38g
Lifespan: 2-5 years
About bullfinches
These stout, stubby birds are only slightly larger than a robin, and will flee around humans. Despite not being considered a rare species, their nervy nature, combined with a quiet song, makes them hard to spot.
Our canals are home to plenty of food sources for bullfinches, whose diet changes throughout the year.
In the spring, they forage for buds and shoots from fruit trees, whilst throughout summer they turn their attention to weeds like dandelions and thistles, before opting for hedgerow berries and tree seeds in the winter.
Males have an unmistakable bright orange-pink chest and a black cap, cheeks and tail. Females are similar with a brown tinge to their chests. Both sexes have a short, strong beak and white rump.
Juvenile bullfinches have a brown head and face, with similar black markings on their wings to adults.
Male bullfinch. Image credit: Melani Marfeld on Pixabay
What do bullfinches eat?
Bullfinches adapt their diet throughout the year to food sources that are available. For the most part, they consume a plant-based diet, ranging from flowers and shoots to seeds and berries, but will eat insects in the summer when a protein boost is much needed to help feed and raise their chicks.
Both male and female bullfinches have a special sac in their mouths that can be used to store excess food.
How do bullfinches breed?
Choosing to breed in the safety of dense undergrowth, bullfinches build a suitable nest from moss, twigs and lichen.
Between May and July, a female bullfinch will lay four or five eggs, which take 12-14 days to hatch. These are a purple colour with green-blue streaks. She will generally stay with her young during the incubation period, whilst the male comes and goes with food supplies.
Chicks fledge at around 15-17 days old.
Where to bullfinches live?
Found across the UK, bullfinches favour areas with dense foliage such as woodland, hedgerows and scrubland. However, they can also be spotted in parks and gardens if there are trees and vegetation that tick the boxes for nesting and feeding.
These timid birds will take flight if there is too much noise or disturbance, so keep noise to a minimum if you're hoping to catch a glimpse.
If you see them scatter, wait quietly - they are likely to return once they feel it's safe to do so.
Not the loudest of birds, bullfinches emit a soft, whistling ‘peu’ song that sounds melancholic.
What time of day is best to see bullfinches?
You are more likely to see a bullfinch in the early morning, or late in the afternoon, before they roost.
Threats to bullfinches
Now classified as Amber under the UK Birds of Conservation Concern, the bullfinch population is most at risk from habitat loss. This is largely caused by changes in landscape, such as hedgerows removals and destruction of woodlands, but is also impacted by regular hedge cutting, which leaves less suitable places for them to breed and feed.
