>> GENERAL >>>>>
– sparrow-sized passerine
– diurnal migrant
>> FLIGHT >>>>>
– migratory flocks comprise 1-50 individuals up to often 100s and sometimes even 1000s
– sometimes mixed flocks with Brambling, Eurasian Siskin or Redwing
– quite easy and relaxed, slow (slower than Brambling) flight
– flocks usually in loose formation, little intra-flock movement, slightly coordinated
– sometimes in long loose bands, which may have wide fronts
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, F
BIF1721, 25/01/2017, Brinnis, Germany, Mathias Putze
– strong undulating flight, thus wings often folded
– outer rectrices white
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, F
BIF2854, 04/10/2018, North Sea, offshore, Roland Neumann
– most striking feature white wingbar, white medium and lesser coverts panel
– back brownish grey with olive rump (see also M in BIF1190)
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, F
BIF2140, 09/10/2017, Rerik, Germany, Roland Neumann
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, M AD NBREED
BIF1187, 30/10/2013, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze
– translucent wingbar broader in secondaries (same width in Brambling)
– underside of M in NBREED dull rusty red, gradually lighter towards tail
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, M AD NBREED
BIF1189, 20/09/2014, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze
– dark upperwing contrasting to brownish back
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, M AD NBREED
BIF1190, 20/09/2014, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, M AD NBREED
Bramling Fringilla montifringilla, M NBREED
BIF1192, 27/10/2014, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze
– same size as Brambling
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, M AD NBREED
BIF0061, 09/10/2012, Gülper See, Germany, Mathias Putze
– notched medium length tail
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, M AD NBREED
BIF0063, 01/10/2011, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs
BIF2855, 04/10/2018, North Sea, offshore, Roland Neumann
– with headwind over water migrating flocks fly very low above the surface
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs
Meadow Pipit Anthus campestris, 3rd from left
BIF2856, 04/10/2018, North Sea, offshore, Roland Neumann
– rather loose flocking
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs
BIF1193, 10/11/2012, Torgau, Germany, Mathias Putze
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs
Bramling Fringilla montifringilla
BIF0793, 13/04/2013, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze
– the white wing panel is the best ID feature in mixed flocks
>> SOUND ID >>>>>
– two different calls during migration
– the flight call is a medium steep downslurred single call like ‘yupp’
– sounds and looks very similar to calls of other finches (listed below) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow
– much less often uttered is the hard, metallic ‘pink’ which is inseparable from similar Great Tit call
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, flight call, pink!
BIF0064, 23/10/2008, Greifswalder Oie, Germany, Patrick Franke
BIF2220, 04/03/2018, Reudnitz, Germany, Patrick Franke
– Brambling calls can sound confusingly similar, but in most cases pitch, angle and spaces between harmonics reveal the ID
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, flight call
BIF2225, 10/10/2017, Kühlungsborn, Germany, Patrick Franke
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, M, flight call
BIF2226, 21/12/2009, Greifswalder Oie, Germany, Patrick Franke
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, flight call
BIF2227, 28/10/2010, Eisfeld, Germany, Patrick Franke
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, flight call
Yellowhammer Emberiza c. citrinella, flight call
BIF2228, 28/10/2010, Eisfeld, Germany, Patrick Franke
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, flight call
BIF2229, 29/10/2010, Altenfeld, Germany, Patrick Franke
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, flight call
BIF2230, 01/11/2010, Eisfeld, Germany, Patrick Franke
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (a)
Hawfinch (v)
Brambling (v) (a)
European Greenfinch (a)
Common Linnet (a)
European Goldfinch (a)
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