Chaffinch Nesting (Behaviour, Eggs + Location)

chaffinch (chick finch) are one of the more abundant birds in the UK, so you’re likely to see a chaffinch or two in your garden. However, you may also have a nesting bird or two in your garden. Below, we take a look at the nesting habits of chaffinches in this complete guide.

Where do chaffinches nest?

Chaffinches like to nest in small trees and shrubs. They are often found nesting in hedges around farmland, but they also nest in gardens.

Chaffinches have adapted well to human behavior. They were once found in deciduous forests, but can now be found almost anywhere. Their nests do not build very high, so small trees, shrubs, and hedges are their prime nesting sites. That’s why chaffinches nesting in gardens and parks are very common.

A pair of common chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) about to mate on a lawn

What does Yan Nest’s nest look like?

Chaffinches must have seen a human-painted nest at some point and decided to copy it.

Swallow nest is a very typical cup shape made of a mix of grasses and twigs. They also often used moss, but lined the cups with softer materials such as wool and feathers.

Chaffinches usually nest where there is a good food source, and their nests are built from whatever local resources they can find. If they nest near farmland, there will likely be plenty of hair and wool to build the nest from. However, if they are in the garden, they may use moss and feathers.

Nest of a chaffinch with five eggs

What time of year do chaffinches nest?

Chaffinches start nesting in late April and early May, but start defending their nesting grounds as early as January.

Don’t be too surprised if you notice a lot of chaffinch activity in your garden in April/May but you can’t find a nest. Their nests are beautifully crafted and blend in with the environment.

Chaffinches don’t build their nests too high off the ground, so they use camouflage to hide their nests in dense areas of shrubs and hedges. If they choose to nest in a small tree, they will often use an evergreen to hide their nest.

How long do chaffinches nest?

Chaffinches only build their nests for about one and a half months a year. After spawning, the female lays and incubates on the eggs for about 14 days. After 14 days, the chicks are ready to leave the nest, but they will stay with their parents for up to two weeks after that.

Most chaffinches also only have one brood per year. Occasionally, chaffinches produce up to three litters a year, but this is very rare. If a mating couple does have more than one litter, this is usually because of unsuccessful attempts earlier in the season.

male chaffinch singing

How Do Chaffinches Build Nests?

Nest building is the sole responsibility of the female bird. They will first find a safe nesting site; this is usually in a hedge, bush or small tree. Once a nesting site is available, the female goes out to find twigs, grass, moss, wool and feathers to build her nest.

They weave twigs and grasses together to form a strong cup-shaped nest, then line the cup with softer material. In total, it takes them about six days to build a nest.

The bird’s nest is one of the most beautiful nests in the world. It is cleverly constructed to be extremely robust and camouflaged according to its surroundings. Adult birds take great care in integrating the nest into the environment, as this will protect the chicks as they grow.

Female chaffinch collecting nesting material

When do chick finch leave the nest?

Chaffinches usually leave the nest 14-18 days after hatching. Female chaffinches hatch about 14 days after laying eggs. Therefore, the typical brood time for chaffinches is about one month.

After the chicks leave the nest, they will stay with their parents for another two to three weeks. Parents will feed their chicks during this time, and once the chicks are ready, they join a flock of chaffinches that forage throughout the summer.

Recent plump tit chick

How many litters does a chaffinch have?

Most paired chaffinches produce only one clutch per year, laying four to five eggs at a time.

It is very unlikely that a chaffinch couple will have more than one brood per year. However, this usually happens when the first brood of the season is unsuccessful, in which case the chickpeas often rebuild their nests in a different location.

Do chaffinches nest in the same place every year?

Chaffinches do nest in the same place each year, and the male usually chooses where to nest. The male chaffinch has a nesting area that he will defend as early as January, although nesting does not begin until late April.

However, chaffinches do not tend to reuse nests from previous years. They like to build a new one every year. This new nest may be several meters away from the old one, but they will build a new one anyway.

chick finch in flight

What do chick eggs look like?

Chaffinch eggs are off-white (blue to some) with reddish-brown spots. Their eggs are tiny, only 19 mm high and 15 mm wide, and weigh an average of 2.2 grams.

How many months does a chick lay eggs?

The female chaffinch begins to lay eggs in late April and early May, and lays one egg a day.

Do chaffinches use nest boxes?

Chaffinches are less likely to be used as nest boxes. Cavern nesters prefer to use nest boxes, but chaffinches are not cavity nesters. Instead, they prefer to nest in dense shrubs and hedges.

We cannot say that no chaffinch nested in the nest box, as it may have happened. However, they are unlikely to be nest box visitors due to their preference for camouflaging their nests in dense hedges and trees.