Length: 15cm
Wingspan: 25cm
Conservation Status: Red
Description: Bullfinches are small, stocky birds and both males and females have black caps, black bills, black wings and black tails with a white rump which is striking during flight. Male bullfinches have bright rose pink cheeks, belly and breast, and a bright red nose. Females have a brown back and pinkish under parts and juveniles look very similar to females but without the black cap. The distinctive shape of a bullfinch's sturdy beak is designed for picking buds from the trees.
Nesting: Bullfinches are mainly found in woodland areas, particularly those with coniferous trees, but they can also be spotted in large hedges, orchards, parks and gardens. The nest is built by the female bullfinch in thick bushes and conifers and is made from twigs, roots and moss. Breeding season for bullfinches begins in April and is usually in full swing by May. Sometimes bullfinches will produce three broods each season with between 4 and 6 pale blue spotted eggs per clutch which incubate for 12-14 days. During breeding season it’s unlikely you will spot a bullfinch as they stay very concealed and close to their nesting area. Bullfinches, unlike many other birds, remain faithful for life and they will often join together with other pairs to form a small group.
Feeding: Bullfinches have a varied diet including seeds, weeds, insects, sunflower hearts, nuts, grain, berries and buds. The young bullfinch lives on live foods, mainly insects and larvae, brought to its parents. In the garden bullfinches aren’t often seen at bird feeders but can occasionally be seen hanging at a seed feeder or pecking at a suet cake. Their preference for the buds on trees has led to them being considered as pests, and in certain areas of the UK this has led to the legally licensed culling of bullfinches, especially in orchards where they can destroy crops picking at the fruit trees.
Information and image from Garden Bird Supplies
If you want to attract bullfinches to your garden then you may be interested in the following products:
Chapelwood Finch Food
Droll Yankees Seed Feeder
Ultiva Feeder Mix
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