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One may see bullfinches in action in smaller groups or by a few individuals. Some of those who were nesting in Estonia have travelled to near-south, additional birds arrived as the northern and north-eastern nesters. On Wednesday, the author came across migrating groups on the borderline of a forest and cultivated land where there are still plenty of weed seeds around. The birds stay on the ground only for a short period of time, because there is no control about what is happening nearby and the bullfinches don`t seem to like it.

 

The „Christmas card bird“ does not need any introduction, nevertheless, we put the photo of the female bird as the first one. Bullfinches are big and chubby among passerines with a bodylength of over fifteen centimeters and bodyweight of around thirty grams. 

 

About the plumage: bullfinches have a black head and tail and grey feathers on the back. The rump area is bright white.  Across the black wings runs a wide bright grey stripe, which is visible in flight and also on a bird sitting in a tree crown. The male can be recognised by „bullfinch-red“ underparts, grey feathers on the back with rose-coloured shades. The females have pinkish underparts and the grey plumage on the back has a brownish shade. Young birds and females have similar plumages, but the young ones do not have a black head quite yet, it is brownish. It is quite easy to distinguish them, it only takes a little practice...

 

Once the nature has been snow-covered, we can observe the winter actions of bullfinches.

 

Bullfinch observations: LINK