Chaffinch

Chaffinch (Fringilla cælebs), one of the commonest British birds, a species of Finch (q.v.), and probably that to which the name Finch, now so extended in its signification, originally belonged. Fink, the German form of the name, and pink and twink, still used in England as popular names, have some resemblance in sound to the common call-note of the chaffinch. The whole length of the bird is about six inches. The tail is very slightly forked. The beak is almost equal in breadth and height. The male, in summer, has the top of the head and nape of the neck bluish-gray; the back, chestnut; the wings almost black, with two conspicuous white bars; the tail nearly black. The lower surface is reddish. The colours of the female are much duller than those of the male. The chaffinch is a very widely distributed species, being found in almost all parts of Europe, in some parts of Asia, in the north of Africa, and as far west as the Azores. In the colder northern countries it is migratory; in more southern regions it is stationary. Linnæus gave it the specific name cælebs, from observing that the flocks seen during winter in Sweden consisted chiefly of males, the females having, as he supposed, sought a milder climate. A partial separation of the sexes is observed also in the great winter-flocks in Britain, but it is only partial; and Yarrell thinks that the young males of the previous season, which resemble the females in plumage, are associated with them, and have been mistaken for them. The flocks seen in Britain in winter are believed to be augmented by migration from Scandinavia. The eggs are usually four or five in number, of pale purplish buff colour, sparingly streaked and spotted with reddish brown. The chaffinch feeds in great part on insects, and does much service in summer by destroying aphides and caterpillars; but eats also seeds, and is sometimes persecuted, because in spring it pulls up and eats young turnips and radishes when in the seed-leaf. It is particularly fond of the seeds of beeches and conifers. Great numbers of chaffinches are killed for the table in Italy. In Germany this bird was formerly in the highest esteem as a song-bird. Its notes are very clear and loud, but some individuals greatly excel the ordinary multitude of their species.—The common Scotch name of the chaffinch is Shilfa.