As with many birds, recent studies have shown that their songs vary according to the region, a bit like a human accent.

Physical Description
Chaffinches are 14-18cm in length, with a wingspan of 14-18cm, and weigh 20-25g. They are distinguished by a white shoulder patch, white wing-bar and a white patch on the tail. The males have a slate-blue head and pink or wine-coloured breast and the female has yellow-brown plumage.

Distribution
Chaffinches range through Europe, across Asia to Afghanistan, the Mediterranean region, north Africa, Canary Islands and the Azores.

Habitat
They are often found in woods, among scattered trees, and in orchards, parks, gardens and fields with hedgerows.

Diet
They mostly feed on seeds, fruit and corn, but need insect larvae for their chicks in the nest.

Behaviour
Chaffinches search for food on the ground and in the trees. They fly in an undulating manner.

Reproduction
The nest is neat and well-constructed and positioned in a tree or a bush close to the trunk or a substantial branch. It is well-camouflaged and generally decorated with lichens. The 4-5 eggs are incubated for 11-13 days, and unlike other finches, only a single brood is reared each year.

Conservation status
Chaffinches are not considered to be globally threatened. There may be as many as 5,400,000 pairs breeding in Britain, and the population may be increasing in recent years.

Voice
The commonest call-note is a metallic pink, pink and the cheerful song varies in dialect according to its region.