Brambling

The brambling, Fringilla montifringilla, is a small passerine bird belonging to the finch family, Fringillidae. Known colloquially as the cock o' the north or the mountain finch, it is a bird of striking appearance, especially the breeding-plumaged male with its black head, dark upperparts, vibrant orange breast, and white belly. Females and immature birds are less boldly marked but can be distinguished from their relatives by several key characteristics.

Identification Tips

To identify the brambling, look for the following features:a white rump, contrasting with the grey-green of the common chaffinch, an orange breast that stands out against a white belly, orange scapular feathers, as opposed to the grey or grey-brown in chaffinches, dark-spotted flanks, which are plain in chaffinches, absence of white outer tail feathers, which are present in chaffinches, and a yellow bill in non-breeding plumages, unlike the dull pinkish bill of chaffinches.

Habitat

The brambling favors open coniferous or birch woodlands for breeding.

Distribution

This species has a broad range, breeding across the forests of northern Europe and extending east across the Palearctic. It is migratory, wintering in southern Europe, North Africa, northern India, Pakistan, China, and Japan. Occasionally, it strays into Alaska during migration and has been recorded across the northern United States and southern Canada.

Behaviour

Bramblings are known for their migratory habits, forming immense flocks in winter, sometimes numbering in the thousands or even millions, particularly when beech mast is plentiful.

Breeding

Bramblings breed at one year of age, with nests placed high against tree trunks. The female constructs the nest, which is lined with soft materials. Clutches typically contain 5-7 eggs, which are incubated by the female. Both parents feed and care for the young, which fledge after about two weeks. Predation of nests can occur by species such as the carrion crow and the Siberian jay, and nests may be parasitized by the common cuckoo.

Similar Species

The brambling can be confused with the common chaffinch, but careful observation of the identification tips provided will help distinguish between the two.

Diet and Feeding

Bramblings have a seasonal diet, feeding primarily on seeds in the winter and insects during the summer months.

Conservation status

The brambling is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated global population of 100 to 200 million individuals, though the population trend appears to be decreasing.