The bullfinches’ strong, chunky beak is well adapted for breaking into tough tree seeds. If we do find the birds moving in the direction of our fruit blossom then we will just have to resort to netting – the trees not the birds.

 

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The male bullfinch is very colourful, having a bright reddish-pink front only broken by a black head and face. His back is grey leading down into a white rump and a black slightly forked tail. His black wings have white bars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The female has similar markings to the male but they are less clearly defined and she lacks the vibrant reddish pink colouring. Her front is a more subdued dusky pink and her back is a fawn colour.

 

The young bullfinch has similar colouring to the female but the black cap is missing.

 

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When viewed in profile bullfinches have a flatter crown than other finches which give them a sort of bull-necked look which probably explains their name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As is the case in our garden bullfinches usually are seen feeding in a pair which will stay together throughout the year.

 

The male courts the female by carrying out a complex display rather than by singing.

 

Click in the sound icon to visit a web page where you can listen to a bullfinch's call.

 

They usually confine themselves to two broods each year. The nest is built by the female in shrubs and bushes, especially prickly hedges such as hawthorn or bramble. She loosely combines twigs, lichen, moss, hair and thin roots into a fairly flimsy construction. She is also solely responsible for incubating the between 4 and 6 eggs with the male bringing her food.  The eggs are light blue with darker speckling at one end. Incubation may take up to a fortnight after which the male will join his mate in feeding the young.

 

In common with most of our garden birds bullfinches will take insects especially when feeding their young. Both birds develop a feeding pouch during the nesting season which is used to store food. As a result during the breeding season parent birds may look to have chubby cheeks.

 

All we can hope now is that any visiting bullfinches behave themselves and leave any fruit or shrub flower buds alone and continue to enjoy the food that we put out for them. Then we can continue to enjoy them.