chaffinch

/chaf"inch/, n.

a common finch, Fringilla coelebs, of the Old World, often kept as a pet.

[1400-50; late ME chaffynche, OE ceaffinc. See CHAFF¹, FINCH]

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Songbird (Fringilla coelebs) that breeds in gardens and farmlands of Europe and northern Africa to central Asia (and, by introduction, South Africa).

It is the most common finch in western Europe. The 6-in. (15-cm) male has a bluish crown, rust-brown back, greenish rump, and pinkish to rust face and breast; the female is greenish brown. The Canary Islands, or blue, chaffinch (F. teydea) is similar.

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

H. Schunemann

Bavaria-Verlag

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▪ bird

 (Fringilla coelebs), songbird of the family Fringillidae (order Passeriformes) that breeds in gardens and farmlands of Europe and northern Africa to central Asia (and, by introduction, South Africa). It is the commonest finch in western Europe. The 15-centimetre (6-inch) male is bluish crowned, with rust-brown back, greenish rump, and pinkish to rust face and breast; the female is greenish brown.

      The Canary Islands, or blue, chaffinch (F. teydea) is similar.

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