Bullfinch Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
The Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) also known as the Eurasian Bullfinch or Common Bullfinch is a small passerine bird and member of the Finch (Fringillidae) family. In Shropshire Bullfinches are called plum birds due to their colours.
Due to their habit of eating tree buds, the Bullfinch was classed as a serious pest in the orchards of 16th century England. In fact, Henry VIII condemned their “criminal acts” on fruit trees. An act was passed in parliament to pay one penny for every Bullfinch killed.
Males are easily identified by their black cap, short black bill, black and white wings, black tail, grey back, white rump and bright red breast. Females lack the red breast and are a more greyish-brown colour.
In this article we’ll take a close look at this fascinating song bird and find out all about their nesting habits, life cycle and lifespan. Keep reading to find out more.
Table of Contents
How Long Does A Bullfinch Live?
In the wild, Bullfinches tend to survive for 2 years reaching sexual maturity at one year of age. However, if conditions are favourable, an adult Bullfinch can survive for far longer.
The oldest recorded Bullfinch according to ring records survived for more than 17 years. Factors that can affect the lifespan of a Bullfinch include predation, climatic conditions and a lack of available food.
How Fast Can A Bullfinch Fly?
Bullfinches can reach flight speeds of around 18 to 22 MPH (30 to 35 km/h). This isn’t particularly fast compared to other similar sized birds, but Bullfinches are more suited for short agile flights through trees.
Most Bullfinches are residents all year round and don’t need to migrate long distances. This means that as they don’t need to cover large distances, they have no need for fast flight. Their flight style tends to be low with quick wing beats which are perfect for navigating their woodland habitats.
Are Bullfinches Aggressive?
Bullfinches are generally shy and less aggressive than other garden birds. If spotted at garden feeders, the Bullfinch will often wait until the feeder is less busy to avoid confrontation with other species.
Having said that, Bullfinches can become very territorial during the breeding season. They will defend their nesting area against any intruders, especially other Bullfinches.
During the breeding season, Bullfinches are known to chase other species away from their feeding areas as well as their nesting sites. This can be a joint effort by both the male and female Bullfinch.
What Is A Bullfinches Habitat?
The Bullfinch breeds all across Europe and temperate areas of Asia. They are mainly year round residents, but many northern Bullfinches migrate further south for the winter.
Their preferred habitat consists of mixed woodland usually with some conifers. This woodland can include parkland and gardens. Bullfinches do not typically form large flocks and outside of the breeding season they are usually seen as a pair or in small family groups.
How Long Does It Take For A Bullfinch To Build A Nest?
Depending on the availability of suitable nesting materials, it can take anywhere between 2 days to 2 weeks to build a nest.
The breeding season for Bullfinches typically takes place between April to July. The local climatic conditions will influence the pair on the exact timing of breeding.
Once conditions are right, the pair will start to look for a suitable nesting site. This typically occurs during late April to early May. The female will then begin constructing a cup-shaped nest from twigs, moss and other plant materials.
The nest is then lined with fine roots, fur and hair and is usually located in dense shrubs or trees which gives the chicks a safe environment to develop.
Eggs
Once the nest has been successfully constructed to the females satisfaction, we move on to the next stage in the life cycle of the Bullfinch, the eggs.
When Do Bullfinches Lay Eggs?
Egg laying for Bullfinches typically occurs between May and July. The exact timing is influenced by climatic conditions, finding a favourable nesting site and the abundance of food available for the breeding pair and their chicks.
How Many Eggs Does A Bullfinch Lay?
Bullfinches generally lay 4 to 5 eggs in a clutch and if conditions are favourable, they can lay 2 or even 3 broods each season.
This gives the potential for 12 to 15 eggs to be laid per breeding pair each season.
What Do Bullfinch Eggs Look Like?
Bullfinch eggs are a light blue or greenish-blue colour covered with purple or reddish-brown markings. The eggs are smooth and are around 19 x 14 mm in size.
With each egg weighing around 2.1 grams of which 6% is the weight of the shell.
How Long Do Bullfinch Eggs Take To Hatch?
The eggs take around 14 to 16 days to hatch with the incubation carried out solely by the female. The male remains close by and brings the female food to sustain her through the incubation period.
Chicks
Once the eggs hatch, we reach another milestone in the life cycle of the Bullfinch, the chicks.
How Many Chicks Does A Bullfinch Have?
The number of chicks that hatch should correspond to the number of eggs laid. However, in some cases some of the eggs aren’t fertilised and some can succumb to predators.
On average there is a 80% survival rate of eggs to hatchlings which would mean a typical clutch of 4 to 5 eggs should result in 3 to 4 chicks reaching the hatchling stage of development.
When Do Bullfinch Chicks Open Their Eyes?
When they first hatch, Bullfinch chicks are blind, naked and fully dependent on their parents for their survival. These altricial chicks tend to open their eyes after 5 to 6 days of hatching.
Once they open their eyes, they become more aware of their surroundings and can interact with their parents, getting more food and growing at a fast rate.
When Do Bullfinch Chicks Fledge?
Bullfinch chicks generally fledge, or take their first flight, around 14 to 16 days after hatching. Even after fledging, they still rely on their parents for food until they become more skilled at foraging for themselves.
SEE ALSO: Crossbill Vs Scottish Crossbill: Key Differences Explained
Frequently Asked Questions
The average lifespan of a Bullfinch is around 2 years. However, certain individuals have survived for much longer with some reaching more than 17 years according to ring data.
Bullfinch eggs are light blue or greenish-blue with purple or reddish-brown speckles. Each egg is around 19 x 14 mm in size and weighs around 2.1 grams.
Bullfinches are not particularly rare in the UK with an estimated 200,000 breeding pairs. Having said that, the Bullfinch population is estimated to have dropped by almost 40% since 1970.
