General

Brambling: Medium-sized finch with jet-black hood extending to upper back and orange shoulder patches, throat, and breast. Underparts are buff with black-spotted flanks. Wings are black with white and orange bars. Female and winter adult appear orange overall with complex patterns of black, orange and white.

Range and Habitat

Brambling: A Eurasian species, common but irregular as a migrant in the Bering Sea region, including the Aleutians; casual in fall and winter in southern Alaska; accidental south to Canada and northwestern U.S. states. Prefers northern forests with birch trees during breeding season; agricultural fields, woodlands (especially beech), parks, and gardens during winter.

Breeding and Nesting

Brambling: Five to seven pale blue eggs with pink and red markings are laid in a nest made of grass, hair, birch bark, and moss, held together with spider webs, and lined with hair, wool, down, and feathers. Incubation ranges from 11 to 12 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Brambling: Eats seeds and insects in summer; seeds in winter; forages in trees, bushes, and on the ground.

Readily Eats

Safflower, Apple Slices, Suet, Millet, Peanut Kernels, Fruit, Commercial Mixed Bird Seed

Vocalization

Brambling: Makes a blood-grating "dzhweeeee." Flight call is a nasal "check-check-check." Call is a harsh "tweerk."

Similar Species

Brambling: Common Chaffinch lacks white rump, orange tints, and flecked flanks.