Pyrrhula pyrrhula - Bullfinch

This lovely resident bird seems to be becoming rather scarce in many parts of the British Isles, but it can still be seen occasionally throughout Wales. Parks, farmland and large gardens, especially those with orchards, are bullfinches' favourite haunts, and they seems to prefer thickets to tall trees. It is unusual to see a bullfinch on the ground.

The male bullfinch, pictured here in its early summer, was a casualty: it had suffered concussion after trying to fly through a closed window. Fortunately after a few hours rest and a drink of water it was able to fly off apparently not seriously injured, and it rejoined its mate in our garden later that day. The females are paler pink, and the juveniles do not have the caps - glossy black in the case of the male and a duller black in the female.

The main sources of food for bullfinches are buds, berries and seeds.

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