Natural England

Natural England

Gardening with Wildlife in Mind

The Plant Press

© 2006-2008. Database provided and managed on behalf of Natural England by The Plant Press. Designed and implemented by Ideal Integration Ltd

 

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Brambling - Fringilla montifringilla - Family: Fringillidae

Brambling - Fringilla montifringillaBrambling - Fringilla montifringilla
© Robin Chittenden www.harlequinpictures.co.uk
UK distribution - East Anglia, Midlands, North, South East, South West

These handsome winter visitors from Scandinavia and northern Siberia are closely related to the chaffinch. The males have a dark blackish head, a rusty-orange breast and dark back and wings, streaked with orange and white, while the females are similar but duller in colour. Although never common, bramblings occasionally occur in large numbers in Britain and Ireland when winter food is scarce on the Continent. They can be found throughout the country, preferring woodland - especially beech - and farmland, and may sometimes visit gardens.

Food

Bramblings feed almost exclusively on seeds in winter, preferring beechmast. They will also visit ground below feeding stations for spilt seed.

Plants

Broom

Predators

Sparrowhawk