Brambling Identification
What I look like
The Brambling has a greyish-brown to black head and a robust beak.
The chest and shoulders are orange.
The upper body is greyish-brown to black.
The belly is white.
The female has a lighter head and pale orange breast.
The Brambling is the size of a Chaffinch.
My songs, my calls
The Brambling rarely sings in our region as it only winters here.
It can be heard singing occasionally in early March.
Its song resembles the sound of a saw, "tchriii"—harsh and monotonous.
How I behave
Outside of the breeding season, the Brambling can gather in large groups with other species.
They are often observed with Chaffinches.
How I reproduce
The Brambling's breeding season extends from March to August.
It produces one brood per year of 6 to 7 pale green to brown eggs, speckled with dark brown.
It nests in trees and shrubs.
Its nest is a cup made of moss, grass, and roots.
During the breeding season, the greyish-brown plumage turns black. This is its breeding plumage.
The Brambling in breeding plumage can only be seen in its breeding areas in Northern Europe.
What I eat
Its beak is more robust than that of the Chaffinch, allowing it to crack larger seeds.
In winter, it migrates to our regions to take advantage of beech mast (the fruit of the beech tree).
To access seeds under the snow, it shakes off the snow with its wings to clear the ground.
During the breeding season, it feeds on insects.
Where to find me
The Brambling lives in deciduous forests (especially beech forests), and coniferous forests.
It is a medium-distance migrant.