..The Bullfinch..
It would be impossible not to notice this bird what with the male having a rich ruby breast and distinctive black cap. The female is much plainer in appearance, she has the black cap but a rather muted buff coloured breast.
The Bullfinch is a bird of woodland and feeds mostly on tree buds in spring and seeds and berries in winter. Because of this and the damage they could do to orchards they were seen as a pest in the past and were frequently killed as a result. Sadly they have, and still are, kept as captive birds.
A Bullfinch pair mate for life and remain in the same territory. Apparently in the Bullfinch world females dominate. The female builds her nest in thick hedgerows and trees and she can have more than 1 brood per year. The hatchlings are fed on insects to begin with which is when you may see the adults on the ground foraging for food.
I have seen them in my garden in autumn when they come searching for the fallen seeds from overhanging trees.
The juveniles will remain with their parents till independent at which time they will leave to establish their own territory somewhere nearby.
