Brambling
Fringilla montifringilla
Length 14-15cm

Very rare and occasional breeder in Scotland but common along E coast as autumn passage migrant and widespread and locally common as winter visitor to most parts of Britain and Ireland. In winter plumage, superficially similar to chaffinch but always shows orange-buff shoulder patch and on breast and flanks; white rump seen in flight. Female and immature birds have buffish grey face with characteristic dark, parallel lines down nape. Male has dark brown head which in breeding plumage becomes black. Calls including harsh eeerp. Seen in flocks, sometimes with chaffinches, and especially fond of fallen beech mast.