Coal Finches building nest

[ksg1970]

For the last 2 days we have had 2 coal finches coming to our empty hanging basket and taking away the lining.

It's fascinating to watch and I'm curious as to whether both male and female build the nest or just the male ?

I know it is 2 separate birds as on one occassion both were there at the same time although the second perched on the trellis and waited while the other gathered the lining.

How long does it take them to build the nest ?

[aeshna5]

What do you mean by Coal Finch- no such bird? I presume you mean either Goldfinch or Coal Tit?

[ksg1970]

Yes oops !

Coal Tit, sorry...

[aeshna5]

Both sexes prospect for a nest site but the female builds the nest alone + takes up to 26 days.

Usually 8-11 eggs are laid + incubation by the female is for 14-16 days. Both sexes then feed the young which fledge after c3 weeks.

[ksg1970]

Thanks, so do you think we have 2 different females building nests here ?

Would they normally be so comprimising, taking turns to gather material for their nests ?

I did try to see where they flew off to and did see one go into a large conifer but the other one seemed to come from a different direction.

The are so fast it is hard to tell.

I did move another empty hanging basket to the back of the garden with the inlay in and noticed one coal tit on each basket at one point gathering the material.

[aeshna5]

Or a male that hasn't read the books!