21 Facts about Bullfinches

Hi there

Another selection of facts about Bullfinches

Source:  http://www.jacobijayne.co.uk/21-facts/

1. Bullfinches have a huge range, extending from
Ireland right across northern Europe and Asia to
Japan.

2. The Azores bullfinch is one of the world’s rarest birds,
with a population of fewer than 120 pairs restricted
to the island of São Miguel.

3. The name ‘bullfinch’ comes from the bird’s frontheavy,
bull-headed appearance.

4. Bullfinches were once popular cage birds. They can
be taught to imitate a special bird flute or whistle.

5. The short, stubby beak is specially adapted for
feeding on buds.

6. They are particularly enthusiastic eaters of the buds of
certain fruit trees. Conference, Dr Jules and Williams
pears are particularly popular, along with Morello
cherries.

7. Due to their bud-eating habits, many thousands
used to be legally trapped and killed each year in
English orchards.

8. Research has shown that a commercial fruit tree can
lose up to half its buds without the harvest being
affected - so the culling may well have been
unnecessary.

9. The bullfinch’s call is a soft piping note that carries
surprisingly far: you often hear the call but don’t see
the caller.

10. They are specialist seed and bud eaters; they only
catch insects during a brief period in the summer
when feeding their young.

11. British birds are highly sedentary, seldom moving
more than a few kilometres during their lives.

12. In contrast, northern populations are migratory,
occasionally reaching Britain during the winter.

13. Northern bullfinches are both bigger and brighter
than our native birds; the differences are quite
easy to see in the field.

14. They form strong, lasting pair bonds and it’s usual to
see birds in pairs throughout the year.

15. Females usually show dominance over the males – is
the cock bullfinch the original hen-pecked male?

16. Nests have a double construction, with the twiggy
base supporting a cup of interwoven fine grass and
dried rootlets.

17. Most pairs will attempt to raise two broods a year;
some manage three.

18. Though small flocks may form at feeding sites in the
winter, studies have shown that birds fly to the site
individually or in pairs.

19. While Continental birds prefer coniferous forests,
particularly of spruce, those in Britain are more
usually found in areas with broadleaved trees.

20. The bullfinch is one of our shyest garden birds, which
may explain its reluctance to visit feeders.

21. In addition to the common and Azores bullfinch,
there are five other species: brown, Philippine,
orange, red-headed and Beavan’s.

Regards

Kathy and Dave