Brambling
Fringilla montifringilla

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– sparrow-sized passerine
– diurnal/nocturnal migrant
– very vocal

>> FLIGHT >>>>>
– first Bramblings announce themselves in autumn by their raspy call in Common Chaffinch flocks
– pure flocks usually comprise 5-50 individuals, depending on season and location sometimes much more
– pure flocks look very different from Common Chaffinch, individuals much closer and larger intra-flock movement (more Eurasian Siskin-like)
– individual birds and flight pattern very similar to Common Chaffinch though

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

BIF066_MPU_I1Q8863_121021_bramb-1-M-WIN_d_north-sea
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla, M AD NBREED
BIF0066, 21/10/2012, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
– M in NBREED with greyish black head
– M with unpatterned orange lesser coverts
– yellow bill with dark tip

BIF067_MPU_I1Q8852_121021_bramb-1_d_north-sea
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla, M AD NBREED
BIF0067, 21/10/2012, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
– dull orange breast and flanks contrasting to white belly (Common Chaffinch with unicoloured underside)

BIF065_MPU_I1Q8755_121021_bramb-1-M-WIN_d_north-sea
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla, M AD NBREED
BIF0065, 21/10/2012, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
– M with contrasting orange/black upperwing
– white rump
– distinctly notched tail

BIF068_MPU_I1Q8947_121021_bramb_d_north-sea
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
BIF0068, 21/10/2012, North Sea, offshore, Germany, Mathias Putze
– yellow lesser underwing coverts
– translucent wingbar same width (broader on secondaries in Common Chaffinch)

BIF069_MPU_I1Q8969_121022_bramb-egfin-mix-FL_d_blankensee
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
BIF0069, 22/10/2012, Jadebusen, Germany, Mathias Putze
– in comparison to Common Chaffinch, the Brambling’s dark head and breast contrasting to white belly can be a good feature from below

BIF792_MPU_I1Q3802_130413_bramb-FL_d_hof
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs
BIF0792, 13/04/13, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze
– M BREED with jet black head and back strongly contrasting to orange/black wing and black tail
– F (e.g. three birds to the right) much duller with greyish brown upperside and lesser wing coverts
– both sexes with diagnostic white rump

BIF793_MPU_I1Q3856_130413_bramb-FL_d_hof
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs
BIF0793, 13/04/13, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze

BIF597_MPU_I1Q8969_121022_bramb-FL_d_jadebusen
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs (3rd from right)
BIF0526, 22/10/2012, Jadebusen, Germany, Mathias Putze

>> SOUND ID >>>>>

– two different calls during migration
– social call an unmistakable, nasal, sustained, polyphonic overslurr
– often this call is the first hint of an approaching Brambling
– flight call a sharply downslurred, a bit squeaky single note
– the flight call looks and sounds very similar to other finches (listed below) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow


Brambling Fringilla montifringilla, flight call, social call
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis, flight call
Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus ssp., flight call
BIF0070, 30/09/2010, Helgoland, Germany, Patrick Franke

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla, flight call, social call
Common Chaffinch Fringilla c. coelebs, flight call
Common Blackbird Turdus m. merula, flight call
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris, flight call
Redwing Turdus i. iliacus, flight call
Yellowhammer Emberiza c. citrinella, flight call
BIF2158, 25/10/2008, Greifswalder Oie, Germany, Patrick Franke


BIF2220, 04/03/2018, Reudnitz, Germany, Patrick Franke
– Common Chaffinch calls can sound confusingly similar, but in most cases pitch, angle and spaces between harmonics reveal the ID


Brambling Fringilla montifringilla, flight call
BIF2221, 04/03/2018, Reudnitz, Germany, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (a)
Hawfinch (v)
Common Chaffinch (v) (a)
European Greenfinch (a)
Common Linnet (a)
European Goldfinch (a)

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