- Fringilla montifringilla
Identification
Male - black head, dark upperparts, orange breast and scapulars, white belly and rump, dark spots on flanks. Female and juvenile - more similar in appearance to some Chaffinches.
Distribution
Breeds throughout Norway and in all but southernmost parts of Sweden and Finland, in Estonia and across northern Russia east to the Urals. An isolated population breeds in the Alps in northern Italy and has bred in Iceland, north-central Scotland, Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.
A migratory species with autumn passage mainly in mid-September to October, sometimes November with most birds moving south or south-west through Europe. Widespread in winter throughout Europe south of breeding range occurring west to Iberia and south to the Mediterranean, Turkey and the Middle East. Return passage takes place in March-mid May.
Vagrants recorded in Iceland and Faroes and has bred in both, also recorded in the Canaries, Madeira, Cyprus and North Africa, Jordan and Iraq.
Taxonomy
Monotypic.
Habitat
Breeds in open coniferous forest, birch woodland and riverine willows and winters along woodland edges close to open farmland and especially stubble fields. In some areas large numbers gather in autumn and winter in beechwoods to feed on beechmast, also fond of hornbeam seeds.
Behaviour
The female builds the cup shaped nest, in a conifer tree, from moss, grass and hair, lined with feathers and wool, decorated with bark and lichen. 4-9 smooth, glossy, greenish to brownish with dark brown markings, eggs are laid and are incubated by the female for 11-12 days. The young are fed by both parents and fledge after 11-13 days.
The diet includes seeds and insects.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Fringilla montifringilla (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
