As winter’s chill lingers, the countryside and gardens across Hampshire are alive with birds searching for food. Among them is one of the UK’s most familiar and striking finches - the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs). The chaffinch is one of the UK’s most common birds, with an estimated population of over 6 million breeding pairs in summer.

In February, chaffinches are still in their winter flocks, gathering in large numbers before the breeding season begins in early spring. The males are especially striking, with pinkish underparts, blue-grey caps, and rich chestnut backs. Females are more subtly coloured in shades of brown, giving them excellent camouflage.

With its bright plumage and cheerful song, this small bird is a welcome sight and sound at this time of year. Interestingly, male chaffinches learn their songs rather than being born with them, and different regions have distinct ‘dialects.’ Their song, a rapid, descending ‘rain of notes’, becomes more prominent as spring approaches.

The species’ latin name, Fringilla coelebs, means ‘bachelor finch.’ This name was given by the famous Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus, who noticed that male chaffinches in Scandinavia migrated south for the winter, while many females stayed behind.

Chaffinches can be seen in woodland and hedgerows, and prefer a mix of dense trees and open areas, perfect for searching for seeds. They often forage beneath trees, using their strong beaks to crack open fallen seeds, particularly from beech and ash trees.

Chaffinches are widespread across the region and can be found in several Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust nature reserves. One of the best places to see them is Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve, near Ringwood. This popular reserve provides a winter haven for chaffinches, which flock in mixed groups alongside other finches. With well-positioned hides and feeding stations, visitors have an excellent chance of spotting these birds up close.

While chaffinches are primarily seed-eaters in winter, they shift their diet in spring and summer, feeding on insects to nourish their young. If you’d like to encourage chaffinches into your garden, sunflower seeds and mixed seed blends are ideal, especially in winter when natural food sources are scarce. Although they will happily visit bird tables, they do not feed openly on feeders, preferring to hop about on the ground and under hedges instead. Providing fresh water and sheltering shrubs will also make your outdoor space more appealing to these charming birds.