Bird finch (Common finch): photo, description, male and female

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Birds

The handsome finch is a widespread forest dweller. Since ancient times, its bright feathers served as a talisman for the family; they brought happiness and comfort to the house. The finch is not only handsome, but also sings excellently, producing its ringing and melodic trills, in no way inferior to those of a nightingale. It will be interesting to study his lifestyle, character, habits and many other features.

Description of the bird

The finch is a genus of songbirds of the finch family, the order of passeriformes, the average body length is 15 cm, the wingspan is up to 28 cm, the weight reaches 30-40 g.

What does it look like

This is what a finch bird looks like in the photo
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Finches are bright, elegant birds. The color of the plumage is dominated by brown, blue, gray, white, and green shades. In autumn and winter, the color of finches is dull, while during the mating season they literally “bloom”. Finches have a strong beak and a long tail, and powerful wings. The paws are thin, long, and four-toed.

Why is it called that?

The photo shows a finch in flight.
It’s not hard to guess why the finch was called a chaffinch. This cute bird can't stand the cold. In late autumn, you can see how he sits with a ruffled head, hiding his head in lush feathers. He seems to be chilly and freezing. In some regions you can hear other nicknames for this bird - “chaffinch”, “brambling”, “cast iron”, “snegirik”. The female is usually called a "chaffinch" or "finch".

Male and female: differences

The image shows a male and female finch
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Sexual dimorphism is manifested only in plumage color. Females are usually not as elegant as males.

Male

The photo shows a male finch.
Male finches have a black forehead and a blue (smoky gray) cap and scarf. The back is brown, the belly is painted fawn. The lower back and edges of the feathers give off an emerald tint. The black wings have a bright transverse white stripe. During the mating season, the male's beak is silvery-bluish. In autumn and winter, the same as that of the female - yellowish-brown.

Female

Finch (female).
Photo: S.M. Chuprov Female chaffinches are not so colorful. The main color of the feather is brownish-gray, with a dark back and whitened belly. A dark brown stripe stretches from the beak to the collar area. The wings are darker than the body. The thick brown color is “diluted” by white wedges, which are also present on the edges of the tail.

What birds fly to warmer climes in winter?

These include tits, sparrows, crows, pigeons, jackdaws and some others. Most of them live close to people and depend on them.

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Lifestyle

The photo shows a finch bird in winter

Migratory bird or not

Finches are migratory birds , although there are species that prefer to winter in inhabited areas, where the climate is suitable for wintering. The finches are removed from their place when the first frosts occur (in mid-October). Some birds fly to Central Europe, some to the south, to the Mediterranean. Some species wait out the cold Russian winter in the foothill forests of the Caucasus. Those who live in Siberia and the Urals in the summer move to Kazakhstan and Central Asia for the winter.

The photo shows finches sitting on wires

Finches migrate in flocks of 1000 individuals each. They fly at speeds of up to 55 kilometers per hour. To rest and eat, they descend to the ground every 5-6. Birds return home from late February to April. The males arrive first, and after a week the females return.

What does it eat?

The photo shows a finch feeding on a caterpillar.
The finch feeds on insects and plants. In summer, finches “lean” on food of animal origin. The beak of this bird is strong, durable, capable of splitting both the shell of a beetle and the hard surface of an acorn. Finches happily eat caterpillars, ants, bugs, flies, larvae, bugs and weevils.

The plant-based diet includes:

weed seeds (nettle, quinoa);
coniferous tree seeds;
flowers;
buds of deciduous trees;
foliage;
cones;
fruits and berries.

Finches look for food on the ground. The finch hunts for its prey with fast and frequent steps, catching up with “lunch” in a few fractions of a second.

When and in what month do finches arrive in spring?

Despite the fact that finches fly away as soon as they feel the first serious frost, they fly home in early spring.
Finches arrive to us in mid-February.
Some of them arrive a little later - in March. And it even happens that finches arrive in April, but, as a rule, they always return home even when the ground is covered with snow.

They arrive when there is still snow

Males always return first and females arrive only 1-2 weeks after them.

Life of finches

A nest built by a finch.
Photo: S.M. Chuprov As soon as warm, sunny weather sets in outside, the finches begin to arrange their homes. Only females do the housework. At the end of April - beginning of May, finches begin to build nests. Finches make their houses on the branches of deciduous or coniferous trees. On birch, cedar or poplar, the nest is built on the side branches, close to the trunk. If they are going to live on pine needles, then, on the contrary, they build a nest on the edge of the branch, away from the center.

The photo shows a female finch near the nest

Dwellings are located at a height of two meters. Finches do not like dense places, because during the period of feeding the chicks, females often have to go down to the ground in search of worms, and in a thinned forest it is easier to find food.

finch nest

The photo shows where the finches build their nests.
The finches' homes are voluminous and durable. They can reach 20-30 centimeters in diameter. The nest is made in the form of a bowl - wide at the edges and narrowed at the bottom. The frame of the bird's house is made of strong material - birch bark, bark, dry twigs and moss. To prevent the walls from falling apart from the wind and the vigorous activity of the finch chicks, they are “tightened” with cobwebs. The wall thickness is up to three centimeters. To camouflage their homes, birds use light lichen or birch bark. A soft bedding is placed at the bottom of the female, which will warm the tiny testicles.

Who hunts finches, what diseases do birds suffer from?

Finch eggs and chicks are a delicacy for crows, squirrels, cats, stoats and weasels. In late spring, clutches suffer less from predators; they are protected by vegetation, making it difficult to find nests.

Adult finches are hunted by owls and hawks. If the birds notice an owl, they give a signal that mobilizes the flock. Together they drive the predator away from the nests. When a hawk approaches, an alarm is sounded and the finches hide among the leaves and branches.

Finches develop tumors on their feet and legs caused by the Fringilla coelebs papillomavirus. Papillomas range in size from a small nodule on a finger to a large tumor affecting the foot and paw. The disease is rare. Out of 25,000 finches, only 330 suffer from papillomas.

Reproduction of finches

Finches are allowed to have "polygamy". That is, having fertilized one female, the finch can mate with another. During mating games, fights are common between males - everyone wants to get one or another female. The mating process takes place on thick branches or the ground.

The photo shows the eggs of a finch bird

One female lays 4-7 eggs. The photo shows how the finch’s eggs are tiny (up to 1.5 centimeters in diameter), colored bluish-green or yellowish-red with pink streaks. Only the female incubates the offspring. She does not leave the nest even to eat. But at this time the caring husband carries worms and larvae to his wife.

The photo shows finch chicks in the nest

Finches breed within two weeks. In early June, tiny chicks are born. The wrinkled skin of young finches is red, with sparse light down. Newborns squeak funny and are already trying to whistle. From this moment on, both parents are involved in caring for the offspring. Finches feed their chicks with animal food - insects and larvae. Now the male has no time for trills, because he needs to feed the kids, who, by the way, are constantly hungry. By two weeks of life, the chicks fly on their wings to make their first flight.

In the photo, a male finch feeds its chicks - photo

Males are scrupulous about their paternity. They protect the home and notify if a predator appears nearby. In addition, males help feed even other people's chicks.

The photo shows a chick finch

Finches lay their second clutch at the end of summer. This time there are fewer eggs - 3-4. The female incubates her second offspring in the new nest.

How do finches care for their young?

Finches are very caring parents; they do not leave their chicks, feed them and protect them from predators.

After the appearance of small cubs, the female begins to leave her house in search of food for both herself and the children. But now taking care of them is not only the job of mom, but also of dad. The male also brings food to the chicks.
It is worth noting that the chicks are constantly asking to eat, so adult finches are always in search of plant and animal food for the children (mostly animal).

Chicks

Male finches feed not only their own children, but also other people's chicks. They are always on guard, looking out for enemies, and when they see danger, they immediately give alarm signals to warn other parents about the possible danger.

After another 2 weeks, the little chicks make their first flight; as a rule, the parents are in the nest or near it at this time.

Enemies

Large birds - magpies, crows, woodpeckers, jays - feed on finches. At night, owls pounce on a family of finches. They often attack nests, eating not only the female, but also her brood.

But not only birds love to feast on these cute birds. Don't mind trying birds and squirrels, martens, stoats and even cats. Because of such an abundance of enemies, forest finches have a hard life. The average lifespan of a bird is only 2-3 years.

In captivity, finches live much longer: if comfortable living conditions are maintained, a house finch can live up to 12 years.

Is it true that a finch screams like a cat when in danger?

Each bird, sensing danger, begins to make certain warning sounds. They warn not only the object of danger about the finch’s mood, but also all his comrades who are nearby that they should be wary.

demonstratively expresses strong anxiety with a sharp, loud and repetitive sound with a wide range of frequencies. In these birds, such signals most often resemble “kicks”. The finch must make all such sounds loudly , obviously so that the enemy can see it and stop pursuing it.

Finches squeak loudly

However, sometimes the finch does not want to stand out too much from the background of other birds and demonstrate its excitement. In this case, he makes sounds of hidden alarm. Most often they look like a long, very, very thin whistle that begins and ends almost silently. The finch usually gives such a signal once in order to help its comrades and warn them of possible danger, but at the same time not to give away itself and its location.

When in danger, a finch does not make sounds like a cat, it does not scream like a cat and, in principle, does not know how to imitate this animal.

Spreading

Arel

Habitat of finches
These agile birds live everywhere - in Europe, Western Asia and even North Africa. In Russia, the finch is considered the most common bird.

Habitats

The photo shows a finch on a coniferous tree.
Finches choose mixed forests and undergrowth as their habitat. But they don’t shy away from people either - families of finches can be found in city parks, squares, and some even manage to build nests under the roof of human homes.

The photo shows a finch in a deciduous forest

In the wild, finches nest in sparse mature stands, at least two meters from the ground. During the cool season, they prefer thickets along rivers and lakes.

Lifestyle and habitat

The finch bird lives in deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests. Does not like the deep taiga, where it is difficult to find food on the ground. Preference is given to sparse light forests and artificial plantings with mature trees and a cool microclimate. Often found in park areas, country houses and garden plots.

Many are sure that the finch is a migratory bird . It depends on the place of settlement. Flocks that have chosen central Russia and Siberia in winter go to the Mediterranean coast, to the floodplains of Central Asia. Some flocks reach the Canary, British Isles, North Africa, represented by Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria.

If finches initially settled in the southern regions, they lead a sedentary lifestyle or migrate short distances to neighboring regions without crossing the country’s borders.

Before departure, the birds gather in flocks of up to one hundred individuals. They fly fast -50–55 km/hour. For rest and food, they make long stops in the territories of small settlements, where they can refresh themselves. The flight is spread out over time and occurs in waves, but the bulk of the birds go to warmer climes in September. The flocks are heterogeneous; finches often join them.

They return to their permanent nesting sites from the end of February to the end of April. The further south the area is located, the earlier the birds appear. The males arrive first; their arrival is determined by their loud mating songs. The females arrive a week later.

The decline in the number of the species is affected by the deterioration of the ecological situation. From year to year, the area of deforestation increases, and the amount of agricultural land and forest plantations treated with pesticides does not decrease. Adverse weather conditions play a negative role.

Birds have many natural enemies, including squirrels, stoats, and large birds (magpie, jay, crow, woodpecker). During the nesting period, they destroy clutches and small chicks. The bird behaves carelessly while singing.

Carried away by roulades, the male finch raises and throws his head back, neither seeing nor hearing anything around him.

Finches spend the main part of the daylight hours sitting on a branch, slowly moving sideways along it, or jumping along the ground, looking for food. They fly at high speed and in waves.

During the mating and nesting period they create pairs, the rest of the time they stay in flocks. Thanks to their endurance, unpretentiousness and quick adaptation to their environment, finches are common in Europe. Their number reaches 95 million pairs.

The finch's singing encourages some people to keep the birds in captivity. If you have no experience, then it is better to choose another species that is easily tamed. Some individuals become attached to the owner, but for the most part the birds remain wild until death.

To adapt, the finch is placed in a spacious enclosure or a small cage covered with soft fabric. Having transplanted it into a permanent home, they cover it with a light-colored cloth, since when a person approaches, the bird hits the bars violently and does not calm down for a long time.

To hear the song, the male is kept alone, without a pair. In the presence of a person, the bird sings only when he is motionless. The dwelling is equipped with a bathhouse and perches. Place low containers with seedlings of spruce or pine.

The finch is fed canary seed, mealworms, ant eggs, meat and cereals. Hemp seed is allowed, but in limited quantities, since food with a high oil content leads to eye disease and abscesses.

Kinds

There are several hundred species of finches. They differ in size, color, and habitat. Five of them are common in Eurasia. We have given 5 types of finch: photos and descriptions.

European finch

Pictured is a European finch

Latin name: Fringilla coelebs coelebs
Weight: 30 g
Highest classification: Finches
Conservation status: Least Concern

The European finch is widespread in Russia, the CIS countries, Western Europe and the Middle East. The length of its body is 16 centimeters, the length of its tail is 9-10 centimeters. There are more than 10 tones in the European color.

Caucasian finch

Latin name: Fringilla coelebs solomkoi
Weight: 30-35g
Highest classification: Finches
Conservation status: Least Concern

In the Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Crimea and northern Iran, finches are common, which differ from European ones in their strong and long beak - the length reaches 1.5 centimeters. Such a beak is needed in order to get living creatures out of thin holes in rocks and gorges. The body length of the Caucasian finch reaches 13 centimeters.

The Caucasian finch (also known as the Crimean finch) cannot sing as beautifully as representatives of the European subgroup. His song sounds more like a wild cry than a song.

Blue finch

Latin name: Fringilla teydea
Size: 16-18 cm
Highest classification: Finches
Conservation status: The species is endangered

Blue finch - distributed only on the island of Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Habitat: pine forests. Slang name "Blue Finch".

Hyrcanian Finch

Latin name: Fringilla coelebs alexandrovi
Weight: 20-25 g
Highest classification: Finches
Conservation status: Least Concern

Small population of gray finches. The head and neck are painted dark gray, the back is dark chestnut. The lower part of the body is light. Hyrcanian finches are small, weighing 20-25 grams. They live in the mountains and rare forests of the Iranian province.

Kopetdag finch

Latin name: Fringilla coelebs transcaspia
Weight: 30-40 g
Highest classification: Finches
Conservation status: Least Concern

This species of finches is pale in color. The main tone is fawn, with a lot of white on the wings and tail. For this feature they are also called white finches. These birds live in countries in Turkmenistan. The Copert Dag finch belongs to the subspecies of the Hyrcanian finch.

reel

In the photo there is a finch bird

Latin name: Fringilla montifringilla
Weight: 35-40 g
Highest classification: Finches
Conservation status: Least Concern

The head, back, long tail feathers, and flight wings are painted blue-black. The abdomen, middle wing coverts, loin, rump are white. The black and white canvas is diluted with reddish inclusions along the edges of the feathers.

The finch's beak is black with a light yellow base.

Female finches are predominantly gray.

Black finches are large, with a strong beak and well-developed wings. Finches live in Russia, as well as Scandinavia, Finland and the former countries of the USSR. They fly to North Africa and Asia for the winter.

Appearance and features of the finch bird

The finch belongs to the finch family; on average, the body size of this bird is no more than 15-20 cm, and its weight is up to 40 g. But if it does not stand out for its special size, you need to pay attention to its color. Usually their color is very dim, expressed in brown, gray, white and blue.

The lower part of the body and cheeks are brown, and the neck and crown of the head are gray-blue, the spot above the beak and the wings are black. There are also elongated white spots on the wings, so a photo of a finch can fascinate absolutely anyone.

Females and chicks have rather dull plumage, their feathers being mostly grey-brown. The back of the female is dark, and the abdomen is light brown; the wings, although black, also have white edges.

This description of the finch bird is suitable for the most common species, the European one, however, this species is not the only one of its kind.

Keeping at home

The photo shows a finch on a hand.
Finches are kept as pets. However, this bird is difficult to control. The finch cannot be tamed. Accustomed to freedom, the bird behaves restlessly in a cage. The pet refuses to eat and hits the bars. Often the imprisonment ends in illness and death of the bird, which is not accustomed to the cramped conditions of the cage.

The photo shows a finch at home

To make the finch comfortable, the cage for it is made spacious. Poles are installed in the finch's cage so that it can jump from “branch to branch.” A drinking bowl and food containers are placed on the floor. It is important to change the water on time and remove uneaten food, otherwise the finch will get an intestinal infection.

The photo shows a female finch in a cage

Yes, and there are many difficulties with nutrition. In captivity, finches are fed eggs, bone meal, cottage cheese, nuts, fruits and vegetables. And also animal food - worms and bugs brought from the garden.

The photo shows a male finch in a cage

House finches sing, unfortunately, rarely. Living in a cage, the bird is in a depressed, nervous state, which interferes with the normal performance of songs.

Keeping a finch in a cage is not a very wise decision. These birds are not adapted to life in captivity.

Interesting Facts

The photo shows a finch bird in flight

There are 450 species of finches in the wild.
In winter, finches lead a gregarious lifestyle. Sometimes you can see sparrows in their families.
Folk omens indicate that the louder the finch's trill, the faster the first frost will come.
The female finch is hardworking. During the period of nest construction, she descends to the ground about 1.5 thousand times in search of building material.
In captivity, finches suffer from obesity and eye problems.
By eating weevils, finches provide all possible assistance to summer residents in the fight against these insect pests.
Finches are active only during the daytime.
Birds move along the surface in short lateral jumps.

Singing

The photo shows a singing finch.
Finches sing in the spring, with the onset of the mating season. Their singing is a flowing multi-minute roulades. Concerts are organized by the males: they sit on elevated surfaces, throw their heads back and begin to sing, surrendering to the moment without reserve. The trills of finches are solemn, joyful, and rolling.

The photo shows how the finch sings

The chaffinch begins to sing with quiet whistling sounds - the bird seems to be singing before a performance. Then comes the second part - the trill itself, which lasts 2-3 seconds. The performance ends with a short sharp sound (stroke). After 7-10 seconds the song repeats again. Only adult males use this style of singing. First-year children sing less talentedly, without breaking the song into the three described parts. Their trill is smooth, with less intonation. By the way, females also sing throughout their lives.

In the photo the finch is singing

Males learn the technique of species singing through onomatopoeia of adults. In the repertoire of singing masters there are up to 10 variants of specific songs. They have a different chorus or trill melody. When singing in a group, the flock sings 2-3 versions of songs.

What sounds do finches make: do they squeak, squeak, or sing?

Finches are amazing birds; their singing vaguely resembles the singing of a nightingale. It is worth saying that finches are capable of making a variety of sounds; they can squeak, squeak and, of course, sing. Moreover, their songs are very melodic, original and sonorous.

Birds begin to sing in the spring, when their mating season begins. It is worth saying that males sing loudly and loudly, this is how they attract their females. Females, like small chicks, sing less attractively, not so loudly, ringingly and solemnly.
The finch's song begins with very quiet, calm whistling - this is the first stage of the song, a kind of chant.

Finch trill

Next we hear the most beautiful trill ; it does not last long, literally a few seconds.
The bird ends its song with a very short but sharp sound, which is called a stroke.
Finches also know how to “sip” - make sounds similar to a drawn-out “rrrrryu”.
Almost every male can sing 5-10 different songs.
If a whole flock of finches sings, you can hear several versions of songs at once.