Finches....

[Olly]

Since putting out a couple of feeders filled with black sunflower seeds I've been getting regular (and costly, I'm refilling once every other day!) visits from about 8-10 greenfinches. What I have noticed is that there is usually a lone male chaffinch that follows them everywhere.

Is it usual for different finches to 'socialise' or is this one chaffinch just a bit confused ??

Thanks

Olly

[nightshade]

We get one Chaffinch here it comes in with the Greenfinches or a pair of Bullfinches
that come in with Goldfinches and Greenfinches

[SteveHL]

You'll probably notice Greenfinches are messy eaters and drop quiet a bit of food on the ground which is where the Chaffinch is at home so they know if the greenies are on the feeders there's free food underneath.

[Olly]

Originally Posted by SteveHL

You'll probably notice Greenfinches are messy eaters and drop quiet a bit of food on the ground which is where the Chaffinch is at home so they know if the greenies are on the feeders there's free food underneath.

Makes sense I suppose. Are chaffinches usually solitary birds then ??

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by Olly

Are chaffinches usually solitary birds then ??

No, not at all - we get them in mini-flocks of 15-18, usually feeding beneath the bird tables or beneath a sunflower hearts feeder (usually occupied by the greenfinches) or even under a niger seed feeder to pick up the spillages from the goldfinches.

Jeff

[Paul mabbott]

I think that in some areas where there is a concentration of good food then you will get aggregations - they're not social, just sharing a resource. I've only ever seen serious flocks of goldfinches (in the Lea Valley and elsewhere) feeding on umbellifer seeds.
And, of course, siskins which tend to migrate in flocks - will often stick together if there's nyger seed available!
In gardens you will often see a mix of small numbers of chaffinches/bullfinches/greenfinches/&c because they feed on different things: greenfinches can crack sunflower seeds, siskins can reach and skin nyger seeds &c, whereas chaffinches are generalists (a bit like dunnocks?) and can't do specialised foods ...
All fascinating stuff

[Olly]

It is interesting indeed.

I was watching the greenfinches this evening on the feeders and there seemed to be a pecking order for which ones got on the feeders first and could notice patterns of which ones fed together (feeders have access holes on each side).

Might have to do some further reading.

[smartie]

I've noticed that the male greenfinches here won't suffer another male to share a feeder with them, but don't chase off the females. At least at this time of year We have three regular chaffinches (2 males, one female, lots of jockeying for position) who travel with the greenfinches. I've wondered whether it is for safety in numbers, since many of the other small birds seem to turn up when the greenfinch posse is feeding. The chaffinches have now all learned how to use the hanging feeders - I think by watching the greenfinches. The males were a lot slower to manage than the females, but they have recently got the hang of it and will often now feed there in preference to the ground or the table.