Eurasian bullfinch

Eurasian bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhula, Linnaeus, 1758

The Eurasian bullfinch is not easily mistaken for another bird. The males’ characteristic red belly catches the eye even from a distance. The females’ colouring is more subdued, featuring a brown-pink belly. Both sexes have a black cap. This head colouring doesn’t appear in juveniles, which otherwise rather resemble females. During the breeding season, Eurasian bullfinches reproduce twice, laying 4–5 eggs, which are then brooded by the female alone. Chicks hatch after two weeks and both parents share in the care duties. As typical finches, these birds are especially keen on tree and shrub seeds for food. Their strong beaks allow them to consume even very hard-shelled kernels. Wild bullfinches live up to 15 years, and captive ones ‒ as long as 19 years.
Distribution: northern parts of Europe and Asia

male / female
body length: ca. 17 cm
wingspan: ca. 27 cm
body mass: ca. 0,025 kg