Eurasian Bullfinches are comparatively tall, heavy finches. They
are dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females
have different plumages.
Males have a
red front and underparts, while
females
have grey-buff fronts and underparts. Both sexes have a black cap,
black bill and black flight feathers. The upperparts are grey; the
vent, rump and wing bars are white.
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Eurasian Bullfinch is available
HERE
.
There are at least 9 races of Eurasian Bullfinches, which all
together populate Europe and all across the width of temperate
Asia, to Korea and Japan in the East.
Many birds from the northern parts of their range migrate South
during winter, but otherwise the species is sedentary.
In Europe Eurasian Bullfinches are permanent residents from
central Scandinavia in the North to northern Spain, the
Appenin mountains in Italy and northern Greece in the South.
In summer they extend their breeding range into northern
Scandinavia (except the highest mountain regions) and
north-western Russia (except the Arctic region).
Winter grounds are found in the Mediterranean (except
southern Spain) and south-eastern Europe (including the
Hungarian Pusta, where they are not found during the
breeding season).
During the breeding season Eurasian Bullfinches have a preference
for mixed woodland, with some conifers.
In wintertime Eurasian Bullfinches will enter (sub-)urban gardens
to find food, e.g. in bird feeders.
Sightings
Click here for sighting information
Race "europaea"
Eurasian Bullfinches, race
"europaea",
were found by us e.g. at Kloster Himmerod, Eifel, Rheinland-Pfalz,
Germany, in August 2014.
D. Wilczynska reports having Eurasian Bullfinches, race
"europaea",
visit a bird feeder regularly in wintertime in Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia,
Poland.
M. Thomas also reports that Eurasian Bullfinches, race
"europaea",
visit a bird feeder regularly in wintertime, in this case in Eltville,
Hessen, Germany.
Previously, we have seen Eurasian Bullfinches, race
"europaea",
in the Eifel, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, over decades, since the 1960ies.
Race "iberiae"
J. Pires reports finding a Eurasian
Bullfinch, race
"iberiae",
in Mora, Evora, Portugal, in January 2018. Another was found at
the same location in January 2023.
Photos
Race "europaea"
ADULT
MALE
Lateral view of a male Eurasian Bullfinch
[Kloster Himmerod, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, August 2014]
Near-dorsal view of a male Eurasian Bullfinch
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2017]
Dorsal view of a male Eurasian Bullfinch
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2017]
FEMALE
Near-frontal view of a female Eurasian Bullfinch looking towards the
observer
[Kloster Himmerod, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, August 2014]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Bullfinch
[Kloster Himmerod, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, August 2014]
Race "iberiae"
ADULT
MALE
Frontal view of a male Eurasian Bullfinch
observer
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2023]
Near-frontal view of a male Eurasian Bullfinch
observer
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2023]
Eurasian Bullfinchs are a species of finch that does not form flocks
outside the breeding season. They are usually found in small numbers,
as pairs or family units.
Food, Diet
Adults: Seeds, buds
Dependents: Regurgitated seeds
Water intake: Regular
Like all finches known to us, Bullfinches are primarily seed-eaters.
Lateral view of a male Eurasian Bullfinch taking seeds from a
bird feeder (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, February 2018]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Bullfinch taking seeds from a
bird feeder (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2018]
More Eurasian Bullfinch sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.