Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Male Chaffinch, Edinburgh, Scotland, March 2005 - click for larger image

The tragedy of the Chaffinch is that it is so common. Were it a rarity, we would probably get ecstatic about the male's pink face and underparts contrasting with its grey crown and brown back. It also has a conspicuous white patch on its shoulder, a white wing-bar and white round the edges of its tail feathers.

Male Chaffinch, Edinburgh, Scotland, March 2000 - click for larger image The males (first 5 photos - 4th with Greenfinch) are particularly brightly coloured in the spring by which time the brownish feather fringes on their fresh autumn plumage have worn off.

The females (last 2 photos) and juveniles are much duller greyish-brown but still show the white wing and tail markings.

During the winter, Chaffinches can form large flocks all of one sex. This is the origin of the species scientific name coelebs from the Latin word for bachelor.

Male Chaffinch, Edinburgh, Scotland, March 2005 - click for larger image
Male Chaffinch + Greenfinch, Edinburgh, Scotland, April 2000 - click for larger image
Male Chaffinch, Edinburgh, Scotland, April 2005 - click for larger image
Female Chaffinch, Edinburgh, Scotland, April 2005 - click for larger image
Female Chaffinch, Edinburgh, Scotland, April 2005 - click for larger image
Chaffinch, Monks Eleigh, Suffolk, England, July 2015 - click for larger image
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