V. TRETYAKOV, biologist

For lovers of cage-keeping birds, the bullfinch has been considered one of the best pets since time immemorial. This unpretentious, calm and trusting beauty belongs to those species of birds that perceive life in a cage as a continuation of their free existence, and not as captivity, full of oppression and stress. The indoor bullfinch sees its well-wishers in people. And if our hobbyists preferred to breed bullfinches on their own rather than purchase them from bird catchers, then the bullfinch would eventually take its rightful place among such domesticated birds as parrots and canaries.

The common bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) is familiar to many people from childhood. These elegant birds, which fly into cities and towns during autumn-winter migrations, attract the attention of every observant person. They usually feed on the branches of fruiting rowan trees, ash trees and maples, whistling in quiet, sleepy voices, enlivening and decorating winter city squares and parks with their presence. In summer, during the nesting period, on the contrary, they behave secretly. They nest in a vast area of ​​taiga, mixed and deciduous forests of Eurasia, as well as in the Carpathians, the Caucasus, steppe forests of Kazakhstan, Asia Minor, northwestern Iran, China and the Korean Peninsula. Eight or nine subspecies of the common bullfinch are distributed from the Azores and British Isles in the west to Kamchatka, Sakhalin, the Kuril and Japanese Islands in the east. Moreover, the island subspecies are almost a third smaller in size than the Eastern European bullfinch that is familiar to us. Some ornithologists classify them as a separate species.

The Eastern European bullfinch weighs 32-34 grams. The plumage is soft, long and dense. The body length is 15-19 centimeters, of which the tail accounts for 6.8-7.2 centimeters. The beak is short and thick, black. The top of the head and the plumage around the beak, the wings and tail are black, with a metallic tint, the transverse stripe on the wing, the rump and undertail are white. The male's back is bluish-gray, and the lower part of the body is bright red, with a faint brick tint; the female's back is brownish-gray, the lower part of the body is brownish-gray with a faint pinkish tint. The red and gray colors of the Kamchatka bullfinch are noticeably paler than those of the Eastern European bullfinch, while in the Caucasian bullfinch they are, on the contrary, deeper. The Kamchatka subspecies is larger than the Eastern European one, and the Caucasian subspecies is slightly smaller, with a more swollen and massive beak. Bullfinches from the Caucasus eat large quantities of sea buckthorn and mistletoe seeds in winter: this is what a strong beak is for.

The Ussuri and Kuril subspecies are the smallest. These birds weigh 25-28 grams.

A species closely related to the common bullfinch - the gray bullfinch (Pyrrhula cineracea) nests in the south and east of Siberia and the Far East, and migrates to the Urals in winter. In males, the lower part of the body, like the back, is gray. The female is similar in color to the female bullfinch, but the latter has one red feather among the secondary flight feathers of each wing. The white stripe on the wing of the gray bullfinch is grayish. During winter migrations, these birds occasionally fly into the Moscow region.

One day, on the third Sunday in August, at the Moscow Bird Market, I noticed a couple of strange birds in a row of canaries. And only when I got closer, I realized that these were young bullfinch males! Even duller and more inconspicuous than females, with a distinct brownish-brown tint of plumage, without a black “cap” on the head. Individual red feathers could be seen on the chest. The feather needles of the future “cap” appeared on the forehead. Bullfinches with the familiar “adult” appearance will appear on the market in September.

Every year in the last days of September, guided by the sonorous melancholy whistles, I meet the very first, small for now, flocks of our lovely winter guests in the park of the city of Mytishchi and in the Losiny Ostrov National Park. In summer it is difficult to see them among the foliage in the treetops. The birds will become clearly visible after the leaves fall, during bad weather in October, and in winter they will be seen every now and then until they leave the thawed suburban groves and go to their native coniferous forests. I saw the last bullfinches in the park until mid-May.

The Russian folk name "bullfinch" (and the Belarusian "snyagur") suggests that this bird becomes noticeable after snow falls. Other names - “gil”, “gil” (Polish) and “hil” (Czech) - imitate the bullfinch’s call sign, the beautiful “fue! phew! hii...” But the singing of these birds is unattractive, inharmonious and incoherent, consisting of short whistles, alternating with creaks, hissing and low shouts. However, it cannot be called unpleasant. Females also sing, but their singing is shorter and more meager. Some bullfinches include in their repertoire the whistling sounds of the songs of other birds, such as thrushes. The tendency to onomatopoeia is especially pronounced in a young bullfinch living in a cage, with whom its owner deals a lot, often and purposefully.

In the 19th century, Russian and European bird lovers paid great attention to the art of teaching bullfinches to sing. The masters of this craft took the fledgling chicks from the nests and, feeding them until they were completely independent, immediately began to work with them. Young
Bullfinches were taught to imitate the singing of canaries, the sounds of special pipes and pipes, and even melodic human whistling. Trained birds were highly valued. Unfortunately, these traditions have been lost, and today bullfinches are kept only as ornamental birds with an accommodating character and a quiet, funny song.

In good conditions, bullfinches live in cages for ten years, which is noticeably longer than their life expectancy in nature. A newly captured bullfinch is afraid of humans and fights violently in the cage. Therefore, it has to be covered with a light, light-colored cloth so that the bird can feed in peace. After seven days, the new settler gets used to the situation and the fabric can be removed. As a rule, these are the bullfinches that go on sale. If the owner, while caring for his pet and communicating with him, picks up the bullfinch in exceptional cases and does not make sudden movements, the bird can be tamed and, over time, taught to sit on a finger and palm, fly around the room and return to its cage. You need to work with the bird at a time when it is a little hungry and is waiting to be fed.

When kept in cages, calm, phlegmatic bullfinches are prone to obesity, so they need a spacious room. I kept my pair of bullfinches in a cage 60 centimeters long, 30 wide and 50 centimeters high. The female is very "grumpy". At first, she often attacks the male with a creaking hiss, opening her beak wide, driving him away from the feeder. The male cannot fight back and always flies away. This continues until the birds get used to each other. It is best to initially keep purchased bullfinches (in autumn and winter) in separate cages standing nearby, and in March release the female into the male’s “territory”.

The male bullfinch that I bought at the market began to take seeds from my palm after just 17 days. He lived in his cage, standing near his desk. In the summer I placed him on the balcony. After just 6 days the bird was so wild that it seemed like it had just been caught...

Market traders feed bullfinches only sunflower seeds, but this food cannot in any way be considered the main food. Indoor bullfinches eagerly eat a grain mixture for canaries, which is sold in pet stores and consists of rapeseed, millet, hemp, flaxseed and white canary seed. The bullfinch is unpretentious in food, unlike its relatives - the goldfinch, siskin, linnet and redpoll, which are able to feed only on pre-crushed sunflower and hemp grains, and from a portion of the canary grain mixture they can peck only a small part of the grains, “rejecting” the rest at first sight. The bullfinch “husks” ash and Tatarian maple lionfish, oatmeal and oats. It can also be fed with quinoa and horse sorrel seeds, grated carrots and slices of fresh ripe apple, chickweed and tradescantia greens, linden, willow and cherry buds (the branches are woven into the cage lattice), finely chopped boiled egg. There should always be clean sand and crushed eggshells in a separate bowl, and clean water in the drinking bowl and bathing bowl. And, of course, don’t forget about ripe rowan berries (bullfinches eat only the seeds from them, and discard the peel and pulp).

Russian bird lovers received offspring from bullfinches both in aviaries (indoor and outdoor) and in cages, the optimal dimensions of which were 60-70 x 50-60 x 50-60 centimeters. For birds to reproduce successfully, they must be healthy. In addition, they need to be properly maintained and fed, and the natural length of daylight hours must not be disrupted. All birds are very sensitive to changes in the length of daylight hours throughout the year. It is the reduction in daylight hours in winter and its increase in spring that encourages birds to nest again. Therefore, it is best to breed bullfinches in a glassed-in loggia or in a room without curtains, in a cage located against the wall near the window (bullfinches do not like direct sunlight and heat). Ideally, the owner should appear in the room only for brief observations and care of the pets. Even before breeding begins, birds should be accustomed to feeding at the same time, in the morning and afternoon. A cage with nested bullfinches must be cleaned with the utmost care. Critical periods when cleaning should be done as little as possible are the laying and incubation of eggs and the first week of life of the chicks. At dusk during the nesting period, any disturbance of the birds (especially at the beginning of incubation), even a simple approach to the nest, is undesirable.

If it is not possible to breed birds in a non-residential premises, the cage with bullfinches is placed on the windowsill (it’s good if it is wide enough), half covering it with plywood or cardboard from above and from the side of the window. A curtain protects the birds from the room. Over the course of autumn, winter and spring, bullfinches will get used to their owner and the care regime. If you purchase birds in January-March, they will not breed at first and will nest only in the next season.

In April, sprouted wheat and millet, egg feed with the addition of calcium glycerophosphate, willow and linden branches with buds are introduced into the birds' diet. An ordinary canary nest is firmly fixed on a perch (a branch with a fork) in the quietest corner of the cage. Indoor bullfinches do not line this nesting base with anything, ignoring the blades of grass offered to them, and, as a rule, do not dare to lay eggs in a canary “basket” for a long time. At first they are worried, but still engage in mating games. Finally nature takes its course and the first egg appears in June. In enclosures such difficulties usually do not arise.

The mating ritual of bullfinches is interesting. The male makes funny bows to the female, feeds her and makes characteristic moaning whistles. The female with fluttering wings stands in front of the male, like a chick begging for food.

The clutch usually contains from 3 to 7 eggs, greenish with brown specks. The chicks are reddish-crimson, with a thick dark downy coat. Incubation of the clutch lasts 14 days, and on the 15-16th day after hatching, the chicks begin to leave the nest. After two weeks they will become independent and should be removed. At this time, the male continues to mating, and eggs of the second clutch may appear in the nest.

In broods of bullfinches, there are noticeably more males than females. During the period of feeding the chicks, bullfinches are given egg food made from grated boiled chicken eggs and carrots and sprinkled with white cracker crumbs. On the 9th day, mealworms (10-15 pieces), greens, and a little thick milk millet porridge are added to the diet. During the molting period, chicks need rowan berries, apples and greens.

The only serious (and most unpleasant) problem for a fancier may be the purchase of sick birds that have become infected with some infectious disease in the wild and are doomed to death. You should purchase only the most active and mobile bullfinches with the plumage tightly pressed to the body and the tips of the wings gathered at the lower back. Such a bird constantly looks around, its head is raised. An unhealthy bullfinch is inactive, looks too fluffy and round, its head is pulled into its shoulders, the tips of its wings diverge to the sides, and sometimes it falls into a doze. If possible, you should catch the bird yourself and hold it in your hand. They choose a bullfinch with a dense body, tight to the touch, which flutters violently in the palm of your hand and emits an alarming cry. A light, bony body (with a sharp pectoral keel), as if drowned in thick plumage, is a sign of exhaustion and possible illness. Such a bird has little resistance to capture and is most likely doomed. In general, the bullfinch is one of the most unpretentious and easy-going indoor birds.

Bullfinches are a genus in which there are 9 species. The most famous and widespread of them is— common bullfinch. It lives throughout Europe, Siberia, is found in Kamchatka and is common in Japan. The bird gravitates towards coniferous forests, ignoring deciduous ones.

Forests must have dense undergrowth. But sometimes representatives of the species can also be found in forest-steppe zones, if there are coniferous plantations there. There are no bullfinches in the forest-tundra. But mountainous areas are not a hindrance for them, unless of course they are covered with forest.

Appearance

The size of the common bullfinch is small. The body length from the tip of the beak to the tip of the tail rarely reaches 16 cm. The bird weighs 32-35 grams. The wingspan is 25-30 cm.

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The body is dense, the beak is short and massive. There is a swelling at the base. The feet have 3 toes and the claws are sharp.

The plumage has different colors in different parts of the body. The upper part of the head is black. The wings and tail have the same color. There is a black ring at the base of the beak, and the beak itself is also black. The feathers of the uppertail and undertail are white. The bird's back is grayish-blue.

The abdomen of males is reddish-pink. In females it is grayish-brown in color.

Reproduction and lifespan

The nesting area is the northern regions of Eurasia up to the forest-tundra, covered with coniferous forests. Of all the trees, the common bullfinch loves spruce the most.

The nest is usually built on the branches of this tree, rarely on pine or birch trees. The mating season begins in early April. During the summer, the female lays 2 clutches. The nest is made from thin dry branches and moss. The inside is lined with grass and feathers. The shape resembles a saucer with a diameter of 20 cm and a depth of 5 cm.

It is usually located at a height of 3-5 meters from the ground.

There are from 4 to 6 eggs in a clutch. Their main background is bluish and diluted with brown spots. Incubation lasts 2 weeks. Only the female participates in it. The male provides her with food. Hatched chicks stay in the nest for an average of 20 days. Then they fly, but their parents feed them for another couple of weeks. Only 2 months after birth do young people gain complete independence.

The plumage color of young birds is somewhat different. The head, neck and chest are light brown. In the wild, a bullfinch can live 15 years. But this is the maximum period. The average life expectancy is 5-6 years.

Behavior and nutrition

With the onset of winter, this species leaves its nesting areas and heads south. Birds fly to the northern regions of China and travel throughout Central Asia.

They can be seen in Crimea and the Mediterranean. But those bullfinches that live in central Eurasia do not migrate. They remain in nesting areas throughout the winter. But travel lovers can be seen in cities and rural areas. They live in flocks and only during the mating season they split into pairs. In mid-March, birds flock north. This is dictated to them by the reproductive instinct.

The small bird feeds on a wide variety of seeds, eats buds, and loves the seeds of berries, but usually ignores the pulp.

It also consumes leaves and shoots, and does not disdain flowers. Insects make up a tiny proportion of the diet. By nature, the bullfinch is a calm, even phlegmatic bird. Females are more energetic than males. They are always the instigators of quarrels. In flocks, it is the weaker sex that dominates, and the stronger half often concedes the most appetizing and tasty plant food, so as not to provoke conflicts.

Relationship with a person

This bird adapts well in captivity. At home it is kept in a cage. Treats people in a friendly manner. She is sociable, unpretentious, curious. Singing consists of simple trills.

They are quite pleasant to the ear. Both females and males sing. Representatives of this species are not recommended to be kept in the same cage with other birds.

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Appearance and behavior. The appearance of the bullfinch is well known to everyone. Slightly larger than a sparrow, densely built. The cap is black, the rump is white, in males the entire lower body is red, in females it is brown. The beak is short and thick. The flight is fast and undulating; They move along the ground by jumping. Body length 15–19 cm, wingspan 24–30 cm, weight 24–36 g.

Description. The male's top of the head, bridle, chin, and the longest tail feathers are velvety black.

The neck, shoulder feathers and back are bluish-gray, the loin, rump, back of the belly and undertail are white. The cheeks, throat, chest and most of the belly are red. The tail feathers are black; sometimes there is a small white spot on the inner web of the outer pair. The flight feathers are black with narrow white edges on the outer webs of the primaries. The outer web of the last secondary flight feather is grayish-red.

The small and medium upper wing coverts are grey, the large feathers are black with grayish-white tips forming a transverse stripe on the wing. The legs are blackish-brown, the beak is black. The female is similarly colored, but the red color of her underparts is replaced by a brownish-brown, sometimes with a wine tint, her neck is gray, and her back is grayish-brown.

Young birds in juvenile plumage have no black coloring on the head, the upperparts, except for the white rump, are buffy-brown, the underparts are brownish-buffy, and the undertail is white.

The tail and flight feathers are black. The small and medium wing coverts are brownish-buff, the larger ones are black with light buffy tips. The legs are light brown, the beak is brown.

The male is unmistakably identified by his red chest, bluish-gray back and black cap. The female can be confused with the female gray bullfinch, from which it differs in the red color of the outer web of the innermost flight feather. In flight, birds in all plumage have noticeable white spots on their wings and, especially, a white rump.

Female bullfinch: photo

Distribution, status. Breeds in the taiga and mixed forests of Eurasia from the British Isles, the Atlantic coast and Scandinavia to the coasts of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and Kamchatka.

An isolated section of its range covers the Caucasus, Transcaucasia, the southern coast of the Black Sea (Turkey), as well as Elborz in northern Iran. In the middle zone, nesting is common only in some years, often not numerous, and more noticeable during seasonal migrations.

In the autumn-winter period it can be found much to the south of the nesting sites, including in the steppe zone.

Lifestyle. They nest in coniferous and mixed forests, mainly on coniferous trees, most often at a low height (1.5–2 m).

The nest is bowl-shaped and consists of thin twigs, blades of grass, moss and lichens; the tray is lined with thin roots, plant fibers, feathers and wool. The clutch contains 4–7 eggs of a pale bluish or bluish-greenish color, with rare small spots of dark brown color, blurred reddish-brown spots, sometimes with curls and lines. The chicks are covered with thick and long dark gray down. The diet is predominantly plant-based.

The chicks are fed mainly with seeds and only insects along the way.

Adult birds also eat seeds, as well as buds, buds, and ovaries of plants.

During non-breeding times, bullfinches roam almost all the time. The migrations are especially noticeable in autumn and spring. In the cold season, they are common in cities and towns, where they feed by splitting the lionfish of maples and ash trees with their powerful beaks, opening lilac boxes, extracting seeds from rowan and hawthorn fruits.

Bullfinch, or common bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

These cute birds with bright plumage have always been of interest to ornithologists and all bird lovers. True, you can admire their bright colors only in winter, and in summer it is difficult to distinguish them from other small songbirds, because they become less bright and are immersed in caring for their offspring.

Bullfinch: description, size, color

Although these birds are considered forest birds, many city residents have seen them in the metropolis. The bullfinch is a bird that belongs to a special genus of singing birds from the finch family. The bird is small, slightly larger than a sparrow. Its weight does not exceed thirty grams. The bullfinch's physique is strong and quite dense. The average body length is eighteen centimeters.

The bullfinch is a widespread and very attractive bird. Photos of these elegant birds are often decorated with calendars, various New Year cards, magazines, and also the pages of publications for ornithologists. The genus of bullfinches is distinguished by sexual dimorphism in the color of birds. Their brightest part is the breast: in females it is pink-gray, and in males it is carmine red. This is a characteristic feature of small birds.

The rest of the plumage is identical in color. The bullfinch's head is decorated with a black cap, which smoothly turns into a small black spot on the chin. The back of the bird is colored bluish-gray. The wings are quite bright: a classic combination of black and white, alternating stripes across the entire surface of the wing. The rump and undertail are white. The bullfinch's beak is thick and wide, painted black.

The bird's legs are strong and strong, three-toed with small, but very tenacious and sharp black claws. The feathers on the neck, sides, belly and cheeks are gray-brown. The plumage color of young bullfinches and chicks is different: it is much more modest, much closer to the color of the female than the male.

Spreading

It is believed that bullfinches are forest birds. The bullfinch's habitat is predominantly mixed and coniferous forests of Asia and Europe from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Nevertheless, bullfinches are often found in city parks and in the courtyards of residential buildings; they are guests in small feeders outside the windows of multi-story buildings, and on children's playgrounds. But this does not mean at all that bullfinches can be classified as city dwellers. It’s just that these red-breasted birds fly to the city to eat and refresh themselves.

Song

In addition to its bright coloring, the bullfinch has another distinctive characteristic - its voice, or rather its song. It is difficult to confuse it with the singing of another bird. It is quite difficult to describe the sounds made by this bird in words. The most appropriate comparison is a whistle or metallic creak. It’s even difficult to immediately understand that these sounds are made by a bird, the bullfinch’s voice is so unique and its song is unusual.

Usually such trills are heard during the mating season. It is surprising that both males and females perform them.

Lifestyle

In winter, bullfinches quite often fly to cities when there is not enough food in the forest. In summer it is difficult to see bullfinches, but on frosty winter days they fluff up their feathers, turning into bright balls fluttering from branch to branch. Against the background of white snow on tree branches, bullfinches look especially elegant and impressive. This bird is a symbol of frost, snow, good mood and winter holidays.

Ornithologists note the special relationship of birds to mountain ash. They fly up to her in a small flock. Bullfinches sit on rowan trees on branches, and the males, like true gentlemen, give their ladies the opportunity to choose the most delicious and juicy bunches. Bullfinches stay on rowan trees for only a few minutes until they are satisfied with the seeds found in the berries, since they do not consume the juicy pulp. After this, the flock takes off, lightly shaking off the snow from the tree.

Behavior

Ornithologists observe the behavior of these beautiful birds during their migrations, when they fly south - to Transbaikalia, the Amur basin, Crimea, Central Asia and North Africa. Descriptions of bullfinches in various publications characterize them as calm, leisurely and balanced birds. But at the same time they are quite cautious and careful. In the presence of humans, bullfinches are not very active and most often behave very warily, especially for females.

In a flock of bullfinches there are almost never open confrontations and disagreements. Red-breasted birds live quite amicably and peacefully. Females rarely show aggression. At the same time, they make characteristic sounds with their beaks and quickly rotate their heads. But this happens extremely rarely and only when there is an objective reason.

If a person decides to feed the birds and leaves them a treat, then they will not refuse the treat and will be happy to eat.

Bullfinch at home

Descriptions of a bullfinch living at home are not found too often. If you decide to have such a pet, you need to know that this bird should be kept in a cool place so that it feels comfortable, since the bullfinch does not tolerate high temperatures.

In response to care and good living conditions, the bullfinch quickly gets used to the owner and becomes almost tame. He can even learn simple melodies and copy some sounds.

Reproduction

The description of the bullfinch during the mating season is interesting. The voice of male bullfinches becomes more melodic, it sounds much more pleasant than usual. They dedicate their trills to their lovely chosen ones, and they respond with quiet, muffled whistling.

Pairs form in flocks in March. In any family of these bright birds, matriarchy reigns; the main role here lies with the females.

Nest construction

Bullfinches choose spruce forests to build nests. In the specialized literature you can often find their description. The bullfinch builds its nest quite high - at least two meters from the ground and, if possible, further from the trunk. This is a special ritual in the life of birds. Much attention is paid to nest weaving; bullfinches collect dry grass and thin twigs with their beaks and paws, skillfully weaving them together. The bottom of the nest is lined with dry leaves, animal hair, and lichen.

Offspring

In early May, the female lays four to six blue eggs. Their entire surface is covered with brown specks. The female incubates the offspring for fifteen days. After two weeks, small and very hungry chicks appear in the nest. To suppress their constant appetite, parents work constantly. They bring seeds, berries and other food to the nest. After another half a month, the chicks learn to fly and soon leave the nest. However, parents do not stop feeding their babies. Only after reaching the age of one month are young bullfinches ready for independent life.

Nutrition

It’s probably not difficult to guess what the bullfinch eats. The basis of its diet throughout the year is plant food, although sometimes the bird eats small insects. Much more often, bullfinches eat the seeds of deciduous and coniferous trees. To do this, they use their small but very strong beak, which has a special shape.

What does the bullfinch eat in the spring and summer? Buds, young shoots of plants and first greens are added to the diet. In summer, bullfinches enjoy feasting on flowers. Don’t mind pampering yourself with berries, especially rowan and bird cherry.

Lifespan

Under natural conditions, bullfinches can live up to fifteen years, although quite often birds do not live to this age. They are too vulnerable to temperature, so they die in snowy and frosty winters with a lack of food. At home, with proper care, this period is quite realistic.

Bullfinches, male and female

Fortunately, the bullfinch is not a rare bird. In ornithology, the science of birds, the bullfinch has been well studied. The bullfinch is larger in size than a sparrow, weighing from 30 to 35 grams. The male and female are colored differently: the male is brightly colored, the top of the head, wings and tail are black, and the breast and belly are brightly colored cinnabar red, with a smoky gray color above and below the tail. Females are more inconspicuously colored, the red color is replaced by brownish-gray.

Step 2

Bullfinches chew throughout the entire strip of coniferous taiga forests in Europe and Asia, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. In total, there are 8 species in the genus of bullfinches in the world; the common bullfinch is widespread in Russia, as well as in Kamchatka and the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk there is a habitat of the Ussuri bullfinch; the gray bullfinch lives on the Kuril Islands.

Step 3

The name of the bird, “bullfinch,” comes from the fact that the appearance of bullfinches is associated with the appearance of snow. Actually this is not true. The bullfinch lives within its range all year round, but it does not fly to warmer climes and remains for the winter. Therefore, it becomes noticeable on snow-covered branches. The bullfinch’s voice is not loud and does not have any special tints, but the appearance of a ruddy red apple against a background of white snow makes it a symbol of the winter season. In summer, it is difficult to see it among the lush greenery.

Step 4

Bullfinches nest in the summer where there are coniferous trees, almost throughout the entire territory of Russia. And in winter they find themselves closer to human habitation, flying in to feast on rowan berries. In addition to rowan, bullfinches feed on the seeds of weeds, field and forest grasses, tree seeds that remain on branches until spring, buds of deciduous trees, and in spring and summer they peck young green leaves and seeds of various herbs.

Step 5

The bullfinch bird is loved by the people, so they like to photograph bullfinches, depict them on postcards, and tell fairy tales about bullfinches. 2008 was declared the year of the bullfinch. And in the Moscow region, in 2007, the Bullfinch Museum was opened, in the village of the same name Bullfinch. The museum contains a collection of artwork depicting bullfinches, a photo gallery with wonderful and bright photos of bullfinches, there is a living corner where you can see bullfinches in person, and also contains a collection of legends and tales about the bullfinch bird.
One of these legends tells about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ - “... Bullfinches with their strong cranberries pulled out the sharp thorns of the crown of thorns from Christ’s head, and drops of blood fell on the bird’s chest, leaving a bright mark on it forever.” Apparently this is why the bullfinch is so noticeable and recognizable, which is why this bird is loved and noticed throughout Russia and beyond.

The bullfinch or common bullfinch is a songbird of the genus Bullfinch, a family of finches.

The genus includes 9 species.

The bullfinch is considered a well-known and widespread bird; it is a very noticeable and attractive bird.

Habitat of the common bullfinch

The bullfinch lives in Europe, Western and Eastern Asia, Siberia, and Japan. It can live in both highland and lowland forests, avoiding only treeless areas. In Russia, the bird lives in forest and forest-steppe zones, where coniferous trees can be found in large quantities. Most of all, bullfinches like spruce forests in river valleys.

Appearance of the common bullfinch

The bird is small in size, slightly larger than a sparrow. The top of the head, around the beak and eyes is black. The flight feathers and tail feathers are also black, with a blue metallic tint. The loin and undertail are white. The male's back, shoulders and neck are gray. The cheeks, lower neck, belly and sides are red. The tone and intensity of color on the underside of the body depends on the subspecies and individual characteristics. The neck and shoulders of the female are gray. The back is brownish-brown. The cheeks, neck below, belly and sides are gray-brown. The plumage of the chicks is predominantly ocher-brown. The chicks do not have a “black cap” on their heads, like in adults.

In addition to the bright special coloring, this bird has another distinctive property - the song of the bullfinch. Its voice cannot be confused with the voice of another bird, although it is quite difficult to describe the sounds made in verbal form. A more appropriate comparison is a metal creaking or whistling sound.

It is not immediately clear that this sound is made by bullfinches, but they really have such a unique voice and are able to surprise the listener with their special song. Most often, such a trill can be heard during the mating season. It is also surprising that both males and females perform it.

Lifestyle, nutrition of the common bullfinch

Bullfinches usually do not fly away from central Russia. Bullfinches are sedentary birds. That is, they stick to their small territory and do not fly away anywhere.

In the warm season, bullfinches lead a secretive lifestyle - they settle in dense forests, where there are always a lot of seeds and tree buds that these birds love so much.

With the onset of cold weather, many bullfinches are forced to move closer to human habitation, to where they can find food. Therefore, in winter, bullfinches can more often be seen in parks and gardens, pecking at rowan bunches.

Birds living in northern latitudes fly to warmer regions for the winter, sometimes flying over vast distances.

You can meet wintering bullfinches in Mediterranean countries, as well as in northern Africa and even Alaska. The birds return to their usual nesting sites around the end of March - beginning of April, and the female almost immediately begins to make a nest.

Bullfinches eat tree buds, nuts, seeds and small berries. Sometimes they eat insects, but they don’t even know about it: this happens by accident and very rarely. The shape of their beak allows them to easily extract seeds from cones. They deal with berries in a special way: they take out the pulp from them and throw it away. Only the seeds are eaten.

Reproduction of the common bullfinch

From April to May, bullfinches begin to split into pairs. Males whistle in a special way, attracting individuals of the opposite sex. Bullfinches mate once in a lifetime.

During the mating season, the male yields the largest and juiciest bunches of berries to the female. When the pair is collected, the search begins for a convenient nesting site. They choose spruce trees for their nests, and in rare cases, juniper bushes. The male does not participate in the construction of the home. It is woven by the female from flexible branches and grass. At the end she insulates it with moss.

After constructing a secure nest, the female lays 4 to 6 blue eggs with reddish spots. Only the female incubates them, but all this time the male gets food for his girlfriend and also protects the family. The chicks are born helpless. They are covered with long gray down. For 2 weeks they constantly squeak and ask their parents for food. After this time, the first flight from the nest and the first steps towards independent life are made. Another month passes before the chicks are able to fly long distances. As soon as this happens, young bullfinches leave the nest.