Similar in size and shape to the chaffinch, the male Brambling has a black head in summer, and an orange breast with white belly. Females and younger birds are less distinct, and more similar in appearance to some Chaffinches. An additional difference except breeding-plumaged males is the bill colour – Bramblings have a yellow bill, whist the Chaffinch has a dull pinkish bill (breeding-plumaged male Bramblings have black bills, Chaffinches in the corresponding plumage have grey bills). In flight it shows a long white rump. Numbers can vary between winters depending on food supplies. In winter Bramblings form vast flocks where its food, seeds of Beech trees, is particularly abundant; some large roosts have been estimated to contain over ten million birds.
Bramblings arrive in the UK from mid-September until March and April. Occasionaly birds stay into May or even later. They tend to be mainly in the East of the country. They feed mainly on Beech Seeds and berries, in winter and beetles and insects in the summer. We have had several customer comments that they are particulaly attracted to our High Energy No Mess seed mix. and now we have developed theAutumn Conditioner mix, this should be a perfect choice for the Brambling.
Egg Size
19x15 mm
Typical Lifespan
3 years
Age at First Breeding
1 year
Number of broods
1 or 2
Fledging
13-14 days
Number in Britain
1m (varies depending on food supplies)
Conservation Status UK
Green
Status in UK
Passage/Winter Visitor
Length
14 cm
Wingspan
26cm
Weight
24g
Habitat
Open birch-conifer woodland
Egg Weight
2.1 g
Clutch Size
5-7 eggs
Incubation
11-12 days
Maximum Recorded Age
8 years, 7 months