Brambling

    Fringilla montifringilla

Castilian: Pinzón real

Catalan: Pinsà mec

Gallego: Pimpín do norte

Euskera: Negu-txonta

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Fringillidae

Migratory status: Winter resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

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THREATS

It does not present any special conservation problems, but it can be affected by the same threats that affect other true finches.

Length / size: 14 cm / 24-26 cm

Identification: Similar to the chaffinch but with a white rump and without the white tail bands and on the wings, which are typical of the chaffinch. The male's head and shoulders are shiny black, his throat and breast are orange, and his belly is white. The female's colours are duller but maintain a shade of orange on her throat. Both sexes usually have dark spots on the lower parts of the sides of their bodies.

Song: It makes a hard and dry "teh-ehp" whistling sound, often similar to that of the European greenfinch.

Diet: It feeds on seeds and fruits, and beetles and butterfly larvae are added to its diet in summer.

Reproduction: The breeding period begins in May. They position the nest in trees and camouflage it with great care. The female incubates the eggs and after two weeks, the chicks are already able to fly.

HABITAT

It occupies variable areas, principally alpine meadows in mountainous areas and mountain beech forests. In winter it is common in farming areas with isolated trees.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: In winter it is distributed throughout the entire peninsula and in the Balearic Islands.

In Castile and León: Spread out throughout the entire community, but unevenly. It winters primarily in Salamanca and Ávila, althouth there are large fluctuations depending on winter temperatures.

Movements and migrations: It is considered more a nomadic species than a migratory one in the peninsula. It usually stays in the country from October to February, but that depends on its reproductive success and the availability of food.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is insufficient data to estimate its population.

In Castile and León: