Garden Wildlife
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Finches
 
Finches are small seed-eating birds with characteristically short strong beaks thicker at the base.  They are in the bird family Fringillidae, which includes over 230 species globally and 19 in Europe.  In Britain and Ireland we have 10 of these, but only five are garden visitors.  Click on the comparison images below to go to their pages.
14 cm
12 cm
15 cm
Greenfinch
Largest common finch, male dull green, female brown-green, both with yellow border to the wing
Chaffinch
Medium sized, male very colourful.  females a duller brown, but both sexes have prominent white wing bars
Goldfinch
Smallest, both sexes same,  bright colours with red head and yellow flash on wing
Other scarce finches you just might see in your garden
 
 
 
16 cm
Bullfinch 
 
Largest resident finch,  like a big chaffinch but with a black head and nape, brown back and very heavy-duty bill.  The female is very like the male but with slightly duller colours. 
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
 
Occasional winter visitor to gardens, like chaffinch but without large wing bars
Siskin 
 
Like a small greenfinch with more yellow and black bars on the wing. Dark head and chin, female less bright but with very striped underside. Winter visitor.
 
 
 
Lesser redpoll Acanthis cabaret
 
Streaked with brown, both sexes have a clear red spot on the head. Seen occasionally at garden feeders
14 cm
12 cm
12 cm
Page written and compiled by Steve Head
Finches
 
Finches are small seed-eating birds with characteristically short strong beaks thicker at the base.  They are in the bird family Fringillidae, which includes over 230 species globally and 19 in Europe.  In Britain and Ireland we have 10 of these, but only five are garden visitors.  Click on the comparison images below to go to their pages.
14 cm
12 cm
15 cm
Greenfinch
Largest common finch, male dull green, female brown-green, both with yellow border to the wing
Chaffinch
Medium sized, male very colourful.  females a duller brown, but both sexes have prominent white wing bars
Goldfinch
Smallest, both sexes same,  bright colours with red head and yellow flash on wing
14 cm
12 cm
12 cm
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
Occasional winter visitor to gardens, like chaffinch but without large wing bars
Lesser redpoll Acanthis cabaret
Streaked with brown, both sexes have a clear red spot on the head. Seen occasionally at garden feeders
Page written and compiled by Steve Head
Other scarce finches you just might see in your garden
 
 
 
16 cm
Bullfinch 
Largest resident finch,  like a big chaffinch but with a black head and nape, brown back and very heavy-duty bill.  The female is very like the male but with slightly duller colours. 
Other scarce finches you just might see in your garden
 
 
 
Siskin 
 
Like a small greenfinch with more yellow and black bars on the wing. Dark head and chin, female less bright but with very striped underside.
Winter visitor.
 
 
 
Page written and compiled by Steve Head