Mojo garden birds bullfinch 381127

The bullfinch, or finch for short, gets its name from its stocky body and almost bull-like head. The male has a gray upper back, a short, thick bill that is black, as are the flight feathers, head and face. The chest is bright pink/red and the underbelly is white. Females are broadly similar, but the breast is light gray. Their diet consists of fruit tree buds, for which they have a large appetite, seeds and, during the summer months when they are feeding their young, insects. They are widespread in Europe and temperate Asia, but the more northern populations migrate to avoid the harsh winters.

• Bullfinches are monogamous and stay with the same partner for several breeding seasons. • In the 16th century, Henry VIII condemned bullfinches for their criminal attacks on fruit trees and offered a bounty of one penny for every bullfinch captured and killed. Features • Length: 16 cm • Wingspan: 22-29 cm • Habitat: Forests, parks, gardens, dense hedges. • Nutrition: Tree buds, shoots and flowers. Seeds, berries and insects.