Chaffinch

Hand made and hand painted.

Materials: high quality native hardwood (maple and elm), finished with environmentally sound oils and lacquers

Size: 30 mm H (1.2 inches)

Made in Germany

Facts:
The Chaffinch is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.

The Chaffinch's large double white wing bars, white tail edges and greenish rump easily identify this 14-16 cm long species.

This bird is widespread and very familiar throughout Europe. It is the most common finch in western Europe, and the second most common bird in the British Isles. Its range extends into western Asia, and northwestern Africa.

It uses a range of habitats, but open woodland is favoured, although it is common in gardens and on farmland.

This bird is not migratory in the milder parts of its range, but vacates the colder regions in winter. This species forms loose flocks outside the breeding season.

It builds its nest in a tree fork, and decorates the exterior with moss or lichen to make it less conspicuous. It lays about six eggs, which are greenish-blue with purple speckling.

The main food of the chaffinch is seeds, but unlike most finches, the young are fed extensively on insects, and adults also eat insects in the breeding season.

The powerful song is very well known, and its fink or vink sounding call gives the finch family its English name. Males typically sing two or three different song types.