5 things you might not know about the chaffinch

2 min read
5 things you might not know about the chaffinch

The chaffinch is so familiar that we often stop noticing it. It has one of the oddest stories of any garden bird, starting with its name.

1. Its Latin name means bachelor

Linnaeus named it Fringilla coelebs, meaning unmarried or single, after noticing that only the females migrated south from Sweden in winter. We now know that females are the ones more likely to travel further south, a pattern known as differential migration.

2. Young chaffinches must be taught to sing

A young chaffinch that doesn't hear an adult male's song during a critical period after hatching never learns to sing properly. Males usually sing two or three song types, and different regions have their own dialects.

3. Their nest is camouflaged by the female

The female builds the nest alone: an inner layer of moss and grass, covered on the outside with lichen and spider silk, so it blends into its surroundings.

4. There is a chaffinch singing contest

In Belgium, vinkenzetting is a contest in which male chaffinches are judged on how many calls they produce in an hour. In Victorian Britain, chaffinches were trapped as cage birds so intensively that by the late nineteenth century it had depleted numbers in London parks.

5. They live on the other side of the world

Chaffinches taken from Britain in the second half of the nineteenth century had colonised both main islands of New Zealand by 1900, and are now among the country's most common and widespread birds. The typical wild chaffinch lives for about three years, but the oldest on record reached fifteen years and six months.

A note on names

The English name comes from the Old English ceaffinc, and chaffinches may have been named for spending weeks picking grain from the chaff left after threshing. In 1544 William Turner recorded the folk names sheld-appel and spink, and spink probably comes from the bird's call.

What chaffinches like to eat, and where

Chaffinches feed on and around the ground as well as at feeders. They have strong, stout bills, so sunflower hearts, kibbled peanuts and suet pellets suit them well, and all three are in every one of our seasonal blends. Offer them in a Little Lantern seed feeder filled with our seasonal bird food and scatter a little beneath it. Keep feeders clean, because chaffinches are vulnerable to trichomonosis. If you are not sure which feeder suits your garden, our feeding quiz will point you in the right direction.

Want to keep track of the chaffinches in your garden? Amidst the Birdsong: A Garden Birdwatcher's Journal is made for exactly that.

Want to read about more garden birds? See all the birds in this series.

While you're here

Because there's always something worth knowing about the birds in your garden.
Clare Cahill

Thank you for reading!

Clare Cahill is a bird enthusiast with a passion for observing and learning. While she definitely doesn’t have a formal degree in ornithology, Clare has dedicated hours to reading birding books and exploring nature, constantly expanding her knowledge and deepening her love for wildlife.

For Clare, birdwatching brings a sense of calm and connection to the world, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. She believes that the more we connect with nature, the more we can do to protect and conserve it. Through her writing, Clare hopes to inspire others to take a moment to pause, look up, and appreciate the calm and connection that comes from letting a little wildness into our everyday lives.

About A Little Bird Co.

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    Birds have different dietary needs throughout the year, from nesting to moulting and surviving colder months. To support these changes, we’ve created seasonal blends – order a Seasonal Bird Food bag, and we’ll adjust the blend to match the season, making it easy to do something great for the birds.

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    With birds in your garden, you’re never alone - they’re the friends who always visit. Feeding them supports wildlife conservation while bringing joy and calm. Whether spotting a new species or simply watching their daily routines, just ten minutes a day strengthens your connection with nature and boosts your wellbeing.

When life feels busy, the birds keep it simple.

There’s something lovely about how feeding the birds becomes part of the rhythm of your day. A scoop of seed, a clean dish of water - and then a pause, just to watch who turns up. It doesn’t have to take long, but those moments can be surprisingly grounding. A little burst of mindfulness, fresh air, a chance to notice your garden as it changes throughout the seasons, and the cheerful flutter of wings - it’s good for the soul.

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