Brambling
The Brambling is a small passerine bird in the finch family and is similar in size and shape to a Chaffinch. Breeding-plumaged males are very distinctive, with a black head, dark upperparts, orange breast and white belly. Females and younger birds are less distinct and more similar in appearance to some Chaffinches.
In all plumages, however, the Brambling differs from the Chaffinch in a number of features. The Brambling has a white rump whereas that of the Chaffinch is grey-green. The breast is orange contrasting with a white belly on the Brambling whereas on the Chaffinch the underparts are more uniformly coloured pink or buff. The Brambling's scapular feathers are orange whereas the Chaffinch's are grey or grey-brown. The flanks are dark-spotted on the Brambling but plain on the Chaffinch.The Brambling lacks the white outer tail feathers of the Chaffinch.
An additional difference for all plumages except breeding plumaged males is the bill colour. It is yellow in the Brambling and dull pinkish in the Chaffinch. Breeding-plumaged male Bramblings have black bills whereas Chaffinches in the corresponding plumage have grey bills.
The Brambling is widespread in the breeding season throughout the coniferous and birch forests of north Europe and Asia. It is a migrant and winters in central and south Europe, north Africa, north India, north Pakistan, China and Japan.
In Europe, the Brambling forms large flocks in the winter, sometimes with thousands or even millions of birds in a single flock. Such large gatherings occur especially if beech mast is abundant. The Brambling does not require beech mast in the winter but flocks will move until they find it. This may be an adaptation to avoid competition with the Chaffinch.
The Brambling arrives in the UK from mid-September and leaves again in March and April. It is a gregarious species and may form very large flocks often associating with Chaffinches. It can be found in beech woodlands, farmland fields near woods and also in some gardens.
Date: 11th February 2019
Location: Sculthorpe Moor, Norfolk
In all plumages, however, the Brambling differs from the Chaffinch in a number of features. The Brambling has a white rump whereas that of the Chaffinch is grey-green. The breast is orange contrasting with a white belly on the Brambling whereas on the Chaffinch the underparts are more uniformly coloured pink or buff. The Brambling's scapular feathers are orange whereas the Chaffinch's are grey or grey-brown. The flanks are dark-spotted on the Brambling but plain on the Chaffinch.The Brambling lacks the white outer tail feathers of the Chaffinch.
An additional difference for all plumages except breeding plumaged males is the bill colour. It is yellow in the Brambling and dull pinkish in the Chaffinch. Breeding-plumaged male Bramblings have black bills whereas Chaffinches in the corresponding plumage have grey bills.
The Brambling is widespread in the breeding season throughout the coniferous and birch forests of north Europe and Asia. It is a migrant and winters in central and south Europe, north Africa, north India, north Pakistan, China and Japan.
In Europe, the Brambling forms large flocks in the winter, sometimes with thousands or even millions of birds in a single flock. Such large gatherings occur especially if beech mast is abundant. The Brambling does not require beech mast in the winter but flocks will move until they find it. This may be an adaptation to avoid competition with the Chaffinch.
The Brambling arrives in the UK from mid-September and leaves again in March and April. It is a gregarious species and may form very large flocks often associating with Chaffinches. It can be found in beech woodlands, farmland fields near woods and also in some gardens.
Date: 11th February 2019
Location: Sculthorpe Moor, Norfolk
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Also in: Finches
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