Bullfinch - Pyrrhula pyrrhula

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Description

The male is unmistakable with his bright pinkish-red breast and cheeks, grey back, black cap and tail, and bright white rump. The flash of the rump in flight and the sad call note are usually the first signs of Bullfinches being present.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Woodlands, orchard and hedgerows. Best looked for at woodland edges - usually located by its mournful call.

When to see it

All year round

Life History

Bullfinches feed voraciously of the buds of various trees in spring and were once a 'pest' of fruit crops.

UK Status

Common and widespread in Britain

VC55 Status

A common breeding bird in Leicestershire and Rutland.

  • Rod Baker
    Rutland Water
    16 April 2013
    male
  • Paul Roberts
    Oakham
    11 May 2016
    female
  • George Kerr
    Long Clawson garden
    21 July 2012
    juvenile
  • Jonesboy1
    Croft
    13 March 2009
    male
  • Jonesboy1
    Broughton Astley
    05 June 2012
    fledgling
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    06 June 2013

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Bullfinch, Bullfinch
Species group:
Birds
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Fringillidae
Records on NatureSpot:
735
First record:
30/12/1995 (Ian Retson)
Last record:
25/03/2024 (Guy, J)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Brendon Brockway
    Watermead Country Park
    12 February 2023
    Watermead Bullfinch
  • Jonesboy1
    Broughton Astley
    30 May 2011
    female
  • John Cranfield
    Stanford Reservoir (ringing scheme)
    26 February 2005
    male
  • John Cranfield
    Fleckney garden
    17 January 2012
    male
  • Roberto52
    B Astley garden
    09 February 2012
  • Rod Baker
    Rutland Water
    10 March 2012
    female
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Footpath via Leicestershire Golf Club
    24 February 2017
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    06 June 2013
  • Lorraine Ellison
    Wymeswold garden
    06 May 2012
  • Jonesboy1
    Broughton Astley
    30 May 2011
  • GHunt
    Oadby Pool
    17 April 2023
    eating the blossom
  • Jonesboy1
    broughton astley
    02 March 2017
    male
  • egaten
    Bagworth Heath
    17 February 2021