Bullfinch

A readable and enjoyable unravelling of the mysterious lifestyle of one of Britain''s most beautiful and familiar finches.

A chunky, charismatic bird named after its stocky ‘bull-necked’ appearance, the Bullfinch is a familiar yet declining species of parkland, orchards and forest. One of the most unusual and intriguing finches, much of its ecology remains poorly known outside academic literature.

Males and females differ more in coloration than any other species and are thought to pair for life. Secretive by nature, they spend most of their lives in cover, rarely mixing with other birds. Mainly seed-eaters, they also feed extensively on tree buds, making them a scourge of commercial orchards, while their striking looks and ability to whistle human melodies once made them popular cagebirds.

Drawing on decades of study and personal insight – much previously unpublished – alongside research from academics across Europe, Professor Ian Newton provides an unparalleled portrait of Bullfinch biology and behaviour. From plumage and song to feeding ecology, breeding strategies and seasonal movements, this book explores monogamy and reproduction, diet and habitat, population trends and decline, and the species’ complex relationship with people.

Enlivened by more than 100 colour photos, The Bullfinch is both a celebration of a remarkable bird and a definitive reference for anyone captivated by the hidden lives of finches.