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Eurasian Bullfinch
(Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
: "Bullfinch", "Common Bullfinch"
German name(s): "Gimpel", "Dompfaff", "Blutfink"
Size: 15-17 cm; wing span 22-28 cm
Weight: 16-40 g
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
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.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Eurasian
Bullfinch at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
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.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "europaea"
We have seen Eurasian Bullfinches, race "europaea", in the
Eifel, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, over decades, since the 1960ies.
More recently, 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.
Race "iberiae"
J. Pires reports finding an Eurasian
Bullfinch, race "iberiae", in
Mora, Evora, Portugal, in January 2018.
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Photos |
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Race "europaea"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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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]
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FEMALE |
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Frontal view of a female Eurasian Bullfinch
[Kloster Himmerod, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, August 2014]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Bullfinch
[Kloster Himmerod, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, August 2014]
Social behaviour: Territorial? |
Mobility: Sedentary/migratory |
Elementary unit: Pair/family clan |
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.
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Food, Diet |
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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]
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.