Finches in Cornwall
11 species matching this filter.
Cornwall's diverse landscapes, from rugged coastal cliffs to sheltered woodland valleys, provide excellent habitat for 11 species of finch. Resident favourites such as the Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, and Greenfinch can be spotted year-round, while seasonal visitors like the Brambling and Eurasian Siskin add variety during the colder months. For help telling these colourful birds apart, take a look at our Types of Finches in the UK: Identification Guide, and discover What Do European Goldfinches Eat? to attract them to your garden.
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, arriving from Scandinavia in October and November. Occasionally joins finch flocks in farmland hedgerows.
Oct–Nov
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
An uncommon but year-round resident, favouring dense hedgerows, orchards, and woodland edges. Often heard before seen.
Year-round
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
A common resident of woodland, hedgerows, and gardens. Autumn flocks are boosted by continental migrants arriving along the coast.
Year-round
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
A rare resident, occasionally seen in birch and alder woodland. Most likely encountered during autumn and winter influxes.
Oct–Jun
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinusLC
A rare autumn vagrant, occasionally turning up at coastal migrant hotspots like the Isles of Scilly and Penwith headlands during October.
Oct
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
An uncommon year-round resident, frequenting alder and birch trees. Numbers increase in winter with continental arrivals.
Year-round
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
A familiar year-round resident, commonly seen in gardens, hedgerows, and on seed heads along coastal paths throughout Cornwall.
Year-round
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
A common resident of gardens, hedgerows, and farmland throughout the year, though numbers have declined due to disease.
Year-round
Spotted something?
Upload a photo to identify it
Identify
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustesLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally recorded in October. This elusive finch may appear in coastal scrub during irruption years.
Oct
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
A common resident of gorse-clad clifftops, heathland, and farmland. Often seen in sizeable flocks outside the breeding season.
Year-round
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare and irruptive visitor, occasionally appearing in conifer plantations during July and October in invasion years.
Jul–Oct