Description
Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) GF114
The Bullfinch is an attractive bird, stocky in build with a sturdy beak. The male has a striking black cap and bright red underparts. The females and juveniles have pinkish brown underparts, females acquiring their black cap after the first moult. They can be seen in all parts of Britain with the exception of the North West Highlands. Their preferred habitats are woodlands, farmland, hedgerows and gardens. They eat a variety of seeds, berries and buds.
The Bullfinch is considered a pest in orchards as they like to eat the buds of the fruit trees. Bullfinch numbers dramatically declined between the 1970’s and 2000, possibly due to the loss of habitat, the use of herbicides and intensive farming. Records now show some recovery in population.
