Overview

Family - Finches (Fringillidae).

The male is unmistakable with his bright pinkish-red breast and cheeks, grey back, black cap and tail, and bright white rump. The flash of the rump in flight and the sad call note are usually the first signs of bullfinches being present. They feed voraciously of the buds of various trees in spring and were once a 'pest' of fruit crops.

Comment

This male was photographed at Hankridge Farm, Taunton on 9/1/2010 and the female at Chard Reservoir on 16/1/2010.