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This is not an unusual view –a red-robed bullfinch male standing guard beside the birdfeeder or below it so that the female can eat in peace; only then it is the gentleman’s turn to peck at the sunflower seeds. Bullfinches don’t show much interest in lard and fat balls. The trustful birds can be seen in country gardens on apple trees or lilac shrubs, also in maple, ash or rowan trees and on tall weeds that stick out of the snow (docks, mugworts), looking for seeds. They eat only the seeds of rowanberries too, the flesh is spilled out under the trees. In winter bullfinches are active in small groups, we meet them in cultured landscapes and near water bodies that are still unfrozen; the number is about a couple of hundred thousand but this varies from year to year.

 

In the adult birds the black head catches attention; in good light is has a bluish metal sheen. The black wings are decorated with wide water-grey bands which are well visible on a flying as well as sitting bird. The rump area is brightly white.

 

Only the male bird’s cheeks, chest and chin have the familiar bullfinch red colour. The females are a little smaller, cheeks and breast pinkish-brown, the grey-patterned back plumage has a pinkish tinge  - the back plumage of the male seems slightly darker. How to recognize the young birds? They are similar to the females but their head plumage is not yet black, still only brownish. Eye colour and legs of all  are brown, beak black and strong. The body length of the chunky passerines starts at 15 centimetres; larger male birds may weigh almost 40 grams, the smaller ones about one fourth less.

 

Observations of bullfinches: LINK

 

Bird group in the yard: bullfinches, great tits, house sparrows and tree sparrows