The 'Brambling', ''Fringilla montifringilla'', is a small
passerine bird in the
finch family Fringillidae.
This bird is widespread throughout the forests of northern
Europe and
Asia. It is
migratory, wintering in southern Europe, north
Africa,
Northern Pakistan, north
India,
China and
Japan. It regularly strays into
Alaska during migration and may continue as far south as the western
United States.
Open
coniferous or birch woodland is favoured for breeding. It builds its nest in a tree fork, and decorates the exterior with moss or
lichen to make it less conspicuous. It lays 4-9 eggs.
This species can form large flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixed with
Chaffinches. These large gathering occur especially if there is a good supply of
Beech nuts. The food is seeds, but unlike most finches, the young are fed extensively on insects.
It is similar in size and shape to a Chaffinch, but has a pale rump and lacks white outer tail feathers. It has dark back, orange breast and whitish belly. The large double wing bars are orange or white. The breeding male is unmistakable, with his orange underparts and black head and back.
Gallery
References
★ Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
★ In the
.Hack//G.U. Trilogy the character
Atoli is named after the Brambling. It is translated into Atori.
External links
★
Stamps Belgium, China, Taiwan
★
Brambling videos on the Internet Bird Collection