Western Europe Birds & Birding (#49/52): From the Highland Willow Scrub of Scotland to the Aegean Islands in the Sea of Crete, Western Europe is home to over 800 resident, migratory and vagrant birds. From songbirds to gamebirds and from waterfowl to raptors, you can find birds virtually in every nook and cranny of this beautiful area. *All images showcased in this blog series were taken and edited by me.
A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
Male Common Chaffinches are colourful birds with an orange-pink breast and cheeks, grey-blue cap and orange-brown back.
Physical Characteristics:
The Common Chaffinch is a small passerine bird belonging to the finch family. Here are some key details:
Adult Male – The male Common Chaffinch boasts a striking appearance. His forehead is black, and he sports a blue-grey crown, nape, and upper mantle. The rump is a light olive-green, while the lower mantle and scapulars form a brown saddle. His throat, breast, and belly transition from a dull rust-red to pale creamy pink.
Adult Female – The female is more subdued in appearance. Her head and most of the upperparts are shades of grey-brown.
Diet:
- Outside the breeding season, Common Chaffinches primarily consume seeds and other plant material found on the ground.
- During the breeding season, their diet shifts to invertebrates, especially defoliating caterpillars.
Abundance and Distribution:
- Population Size:
- In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to be 185-269 million pairs, which translates to 371-537 million mature individuals.
- Geographical Range:
- The Common Chaffinch is widespread across Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
- It occurs in countries such as Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, and more.
- It has also been introduced in Australia and New Zealand.
- Habitat:
- Common Chaffinches inhabit various biomes, including Mediterranean forests, woodlands, scrub, taiga, temperate broadleaf, and mixed forests.
IUCN Red List Status:
The Common Chaffinch is classified as Data Deficient (DD). While its biology is well-known, there is insufficient data on abundance and distribution to assess its risk of extinction directly or indirectly.
For more information, you can explore the IUCN Red List and learn about the conservation status of various species.
COMMON CHAFFINCH WAS LIFER #819
Reflections of the Natural World 