Brambling

The Brambling is the northern cousin of the Chaffinch. It breeds in Scandinavian and Russian forests. It is a winter visitor to the rest of Europe and appears more often when northern food supplies fail. It is similar to the Chaffinch in size. It is distinguished by an orange breast and a prominent white rump.

Bramblings are highly social in winter. They often join huge mixed flocks with Chaffinches. In some years, winter roosts contain millions of birds. They feed heavily on beech nuts on the forest floor. Their call is a distinct, nasal 'dzhweee'. In summer, males have dark heads that pale to mottled brown in winter.