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Eurasian ChaffinchAlternate name(s): "Common Chaffinch", "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 Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
Near-frontal/ventral view of a male Eurasian 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 Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Fretin, Hauts-de-France, France, May 2021]
Near-lateral view of a male Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
Lateral/ventral view of a male Eurasian 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 Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Lateral/ventral view of a Eurasian Chaffinch, slightly different posture
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]
Dorsal view of a male Eurasian 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 Eurasian 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 Eurasian 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 Eurasian 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 Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
Close-up lateral view of a female Eurasian 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 Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]
Near-lateral view of a male Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]
Close-up lateral view of a male Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a male Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]
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FEMALE |
Near-frontal view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]
Race "gengleri"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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NON-BREEDING |
Near-frontal view of a male Eurasian Chaffinch in non-breeding
plumage
looking towards the observer
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Buttermere, Lake District, Cumbria, England, September 2023]
Near-dorsal view of a male Eurasian Chaffinch in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Borrowdale, Lake District, Cumbria, England, September 2023]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Buttermere, Lake District, Cumbria, England, September 2023]
Near-frontal view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Buttermere, Lake District, Cumbria, England, September 2023]
Near-lateral view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
looking towards the observer
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Buttermere, Lake District, Cumbria, England, September 2023]
Race "balearica"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
Frontal view of a male Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2014]
Near-frontal view of a male Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2016]
Lateral view of a male Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Marcos da Ataboeira, Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]
Lateral view of a male Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Santa Justa, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, February 2018]
Lateral view of a male Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2014]
Lateral view of a male Eurasian 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 Eurasian Chaffinch in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2013]
View onto the upperparts of a male Eurasian 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 Eurasian Chaffinch looking sideways
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2022]
Near-frontal view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Soto de las Juntas, Madrid, Spain, December 2019]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2022]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch hiding in a dark spot
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch with a substantial meal
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2017]
Dorsal view of a female Eurasian 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 Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Cala Gonone, eastern Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]
Near-frontal view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Cala Gonone, eastern Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]
Lateral view of a Eurasian Chaffinch in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Cala Gonone, eastern Sardinia, Italy, June 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a Eurasian 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 Eurasian 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 Eurasian 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 Eurasian Chaffinch in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Faial Island, Azores, November 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a male Eurasian 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 Eurasian Chaffinch looking sideways
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]
Lateral view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Faial Island, Azores, November 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a female Eurasian Chaffinch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]
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Behaviour |
Male Eurasian 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, Eurasian Chaffinches are gregarious birds and can be found in substantial flocks.
Mob of Eurasian 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, Eurasian 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.
Lateral view of a male Eurasian Chaffinch demonstrating why its German
name is "Buchfink" (=beech finch) by feeding on beechnuts
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Freudenstadt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, October 2023]
Pair of Eurasian Chaffinches feeding on beechnuts
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Freudenstadt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, October 2023]
Male Eurasian Chaffinch taking flesh from a fallen acorn
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2016]
Female Eurasian Chaffinch taking a berry
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]
Female Eurasian Chaffinch "harvesting" corn
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]
Male Eurasian Chaffinch drinking water from a tiny, muddy puddle
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]
Male Eurasian 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
.