Brambling
Fringilla montifringilla
Visual Identification
Appearance
The Brambling is a striking small finch with a distinctive orange breast and shoulders, contrasting sharply with its black head in breeding males. Its white rump and belly stand out in flight, while the back is mottled brown and black. The wings feature prominent white patches and bars.
Females and winter males are less colourful, with buff-orange breasts and brownish heads. Both sexes display a yellowish bill that darkens to black at the tip during breeding season.
Size
Length
14cm to 16cm
Wingspan
23cm to 26cm
Weight
18g to 29g
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Bramblings breed in northern boreal forests across Scandinavia and Siberia. During winter, they migrate south and west, reaching as far as the UK, southern Europe, and occasionally North Africa. They favour deciduous and mixed woodlands, particularly those with beech trees.
In the UK, Bramblings are winter visitors, and their numbers fluctuate greatly from year to year depending on food availability and weather conditions on the continent.
Elevation Range
Sea level to 2,000 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Subarctic
Distribution Map
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Brambling. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
- Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
- This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:
- More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
- How birds move around during different seasons
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
This feature is in beta. We'd love your feedback to improve it!
Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Agility
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
The Brambling demonstrates high agility with its characteristic bouncing flight and ability to navigate through woodlands. Its small size and adaptability to various foraging situations, from ground feeding to visiting bird feeders, indicate impressive manoeuvrability.
Strength
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
As a small finch, the Brambling's strength is modest. However, it possesses enough power to crack open beech nuts and other seeds, which form a significant part of its diet. Its ability to undertake long-distance migrations also suggests a degree of muscular endurance.
Adaptability
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Bramblings show remarkable adaptability, evidenced by their nomadic behaviour and irruptive migrations. Their ability to thrive in various habitats from sea level to 2,000 metres, and to adjust their diet seasonally, demonstrates high adaptability to changing environmental conditions.
Aggressiveness
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
While Bramblings are highly social and form large flocks, they are not particularly aggressive birds. They may exhibit some territorial behaviour during breeding season, but generally, they are not known for aggressive tendencies towards other birds or species.
Endurance
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
The Brambling's endurance is impressive, particularly considering its long-distance migratory habits. Flying from northern breeding grounds to wintering areas in southern Europe and beyond requires significant stamina. Their ability to survive harsh northern climates and adapt to varying food availability also indicates strong endurance.
Diet
Bramblings primarily feed on seeds, especially beech mast, influencing their winter distribution. They also consume small invertebrates, particularly during the breeding season, including springtails, aphids, bugs, earwigs, bees, ants, wasps and spiders.
In gardens, they readily visit bird feeders, showing a preference for sunflower seeds and niger seeds.
During summer, prey is found in foliage or picked from bark and leaves, while in the autumn and winter, it’s more common to see Bramblings foraging on the ground for fallen seeds.
Behaviour
Bramblings are highly social, often forming large flocks outside the breeding season. They have a characteristic bouncing flight and can be seen foraging on the ground in open woodlands.
During migration, they may gather in enormous numbers, creating spectacular roosting displays in favoured locations.
Vocalisation
The Brambling's call is a nasal, buzzing 'tsweee' or 'zhweee', often given in flight. Their song heard mainly in breeding areas, is a rapid, chattering warble interspersed with harsh notes, somewhat reminiscent of a squeaky wheel.
During winter, Bramblings are largely silent.
Nesting & Breeding
Breeding occurs from May to July in their northern range. Males establish territories and attract females with song flights and displays. Pairs form monogamous bonds for the breeding season.
Nests are typically built in trees, often birch or spruce, and are mainly constructed by the female using moss, lichen, and grass. The clutch usually consists of 5-7 pale blue or greenish eggs with reddish-brown spots.
Incubation lasts about 11-12 days, primarily by the female. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after 13-14 days. Families may remain together for a short period post-fledging before joining larger flocks.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for Bramblings in mixed finch flocks during winter
- Listen for their nasal 'tsweee' call, which is often the first sign of their presence
- Check beech woods in autumn, where they feed on fallen beech mast
- In the UK, scan garden bird feeders during cold snaps for visiting Bramblings
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Other names:
Mountain Finch
Family:
FringillidaeAverage Lifespan
2 to 5 years
Max Lifespan
14.8 years [4]
Predators
Did You Know?
- Bramblings can form enormous winter roosts, with one in Switzerland once estimated to contain 70 million birds.
- Their scientific name, Fringilla montifringilla, means 'mountain finch' in Latin.
- Bramblings are one of the few bird species that can digest beech nuts, giving them a competitive advantage in beech forests.
Similar Birds
References
- 1 2
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Fringilla montifringilla. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22720041A88203665.
View source - 3
report, 2015: EBCC
- 4
journalArticle, 2006: Moller, Sociality, age at first reproduction and senescence: comparative analyses of birds, J Evol Biol, 19:682-689
View source
Share Your Feedback
We value your opinion! Let us know what you think about this bird page.