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Common ChaffinchAlternate name(s): "Chaffinch" ![]() Size: 14-16 cm; wing span 24.5-28.5 cm Weight: 15-30 g |
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Photos |
Race "coelebs"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
Near-frontal view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
Near-frontal/ventral view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage;
this is the bird whose
calls
were recorded on 3 May 2019
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2019]
Close-up near-frontal/ventral view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Fretin, Hauts-de-France, France, May 2021]
Near-lateral view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
Lateral/ventral view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
issuing its call; this is the bird whose
calls
were recorded on 3 May 2019
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2019]
Lateral/ventral view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Lateral/ventral view of a Common Chaffinch, slightly different posture
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]
Dorsal view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
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NON-BREEDING |
Frontal view of a male Common Chaffinch in non-breeding
plumage;
note the pale, brownish colours
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]
Near-frontal/ventral view of a male Common Chaffinch with a rather pale
front; this bird may still be moulting into its breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]
Lateral view of a male Common Chaffinch in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]
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FEMALE |
Near-frontal view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
Lateral view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
Close-up lateral view of a female Common Chaffinch with
what looks like a young shoot
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Oslo airport, Oslo, Norway, June 2018]
Race "caucasica"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
Frontal view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]
Near-lateral view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]
Close-up lateral view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]
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FEMALE |
Near-frontal view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]
Lateral view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]
Race "balearica"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
Frontal view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2014]
Near-frontal view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2016]
Lateral view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Marcos da Ataboeira, Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]
Lateral view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Santa Justa, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, February 2018]
Lateral view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2014]
Lateral view of a male Common Chaffinch in worn breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, July 2016]
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NON-BREEDING |
Lateral view of a male Common Chaffinch in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2013]
View onto the upperparts of a male Common Chaffinch in non-breeding
plumage in low flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, January 2019]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Common Chaffinch looking sideways
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2022]
Near-frontal view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Soto de las Juntas, Madrid, Spain, December 2019]
Lateral view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2022]
Lateral view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]
Lateral view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]
Lateral view of a female Common Chaffinch hiding in a dark spot
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]
Lateral view of a female Common Chaffinch with a substantial meal
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2017]
Dorsal view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Divor river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2021]
Race "sarda"
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ADULT |
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Cala Gonone, eastern Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]
Near-frontal view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Cala Gonone, eastern Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]
Lateral view of a Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Cala Gonone, eastern Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Cala Gonone, eastern Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]
Race "moreletti"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
Lateral view of a male Common Chaffinch in breeding
plumage;
note the dull colours of this race
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Faial Island, Azores, November 2018]
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NON-BREEDING |
Lateral view of a male Common Chaffinch in non-breeding
plumage;
note the dull colours of this race
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Pico Island, Azores, November 2018]
Lateral view of a male Common Chaffinch in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Faial Island, Azores, November 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a male Common Chaffinch in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Faial Island, Azores, November 2018]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Common Chaffinch looking sideways
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]
Lateral view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Faial Island, Azores, November 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a female Common Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]
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Behaviour |
Male Common Chaffinch having a bath
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]
Like most other finches and related species, especially outside the breeding season, Common Chaffinches are gregarious birds and can be found in substantial flocks.
Mob of Common Chaffinches feeding together
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2022]
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Food, Diet |
Like all finches known to us, Common Chaffinches are mainly seed-eaters.
Note that cardueline finches (i.e. European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, Eurasian Siskin and their close relatives) feed their young primarily regurgitated seeds, while fringilline finches (all others) feed their young primarily invertebrates.
Male Common Chaffinch taking flesh from a fallen acorn
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2016]
Female Common Chaffinch taking a berry
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]
Female Common Chaffinch "harvesting" corn
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]
Male Common Chaffinch drinking water from a tiny, muddy puddle
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]
Male Common Chaffinch drinking water from a tiny, muddy puddle
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
chfinch_dw_20190429.m4a |
coelebs (Poland) |
Territorial calls (male) | © DW | |
chfinch_dw_20170522.m4a |
coelebs (Poland) |
Territorial calls (male) | © DW | |
chfinch_dw_20170522_NR.m4a |
coelebs (Poland) |
Territorial calls (male); no bkgd |
© DW | |
chfinch_dw_20160529.m4a |
coelebs (Poland) |
Territorial calls (male) | © DW | |
chfinch_dw_20160529_2.m4a |
coelebs (Poland) |
Territorial call (male) | © DW | |
chfinch_dw_20190503.m4a |
coelebs (Poland) |
Territorial calls (male) (+ Eurasian Siskin) |
© DW | |
chfinch_dw_20160507.m4a |
coelebs (Poland) |
Territorial calls | © DW | |
chfinch_dw_20160505.m4a |
coelebs (Poland) |
? | © DW | |
chfinch_jp_20230113.mp3 |
balearica (Portugal) |
Contact calls(?) | © JP | |
chfinch_jp_20190522.m4a |
balearica (Portugal) |
Territorial call (male) | © JP | |
chfinch_jp_20200323.m4a |
balearica (Portugal) |
Territorial calls (male) | © JP | |
chfinch_jp_20200322.m4a |
balearica (Portugal) |
Territorial calls (males, Q&A) | © JP | |
chfinch_jp_20200412.m4a |
balearica (Portugal) |
Territorial calls (male) (+ Hoopoe) |
© JP | |
chfinch_jp_20230217.mp3 |
balearica (Portugal) |
Abbreviated territorial call? | © JP | |
chfinch_jp_20201026.m4a |
balearica (Portugal) |
Alarm calls | © JP | |
chfinch_jp_20190606.m4a |
balearica (Portugal) |
Various | © JP |
More Common Chaffinch sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.