..Chaffinch..
The Chaffinch is familiar to those of us who put out bird feeders. Like many of the birds that visit nearby gardens the Chaffinch lives and breeds at Corkagh but knows a free lunch when he sees one. They are among the top 20 garden birds in Ireland.
The males have a pinkish breast and grey cap. Their colouring becomes more vivid during the breeding season. The female, on the other hand, is a buff colour but they both have striking wings with white markings and a hint of yellow.
You can tell Finches and Sparrows apart from other birds by their beaks which are thick and powerful looking allowing them to easily crack open hard nuts and seeds.
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| Chaffinch enjoying a snack left on the bridge by a kind visitor to Corkagh |
Chaffinches spend much of the year feeding together in group, foraging on the ground for plant material and seeds. They, of course, also visit feeders though they don't seem to be as good at perching as some of the other birds.
In late winter a male Chaffinch will claim a territory by picking a perch and singing loudly to claim he patch. He is also singing to attract a mate and when a female arrives she will be responsible for building a nest, usually in a fork of branches high up in the trees.
The pair usually rear only one brood per year. The fledglings are poor fliers and usually hide out low in the hedgerows waiting to be fed. Initially, like many birds, they are fed with insects but are gradually introduced to seeds and other foods. Once they achieve independence they join with other juveniles and adults for the winter months.
Not all male chaffinches will be able to establish their own territory. In this case they lead the solitary life of a bachelor, feeding where they can but always on the lookout for a vacancy should some accident befall a resident male. They also continue to sing in the hope of tempting a female who has already mated to consider a bit on the side.
