Finches in Oxfordshire
9 species matching this filter.
Oxfordshire's mix of rolling farmland, ancient woodlands, and river valleys provides excellent habitat for nine species of finch. Year-round residents such as the Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, and Bullfinch are joined in winter by visiting Bramblings and Eurasian Siskins, making the county a rewarding destination for finch enthusiasts across all seasons. For help telling these species apart, see our Types of Finches in the UK: Identification Guide.
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
A rare winter visitor from Scandinavia, sometimes joining chaffinch flocks on farmland and beneath beech trees. Numbers vary greatly between years.
Oct–Mar
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
An uncommon but year-round resident, favouring thick hedgerows and woodland edges. Its soft piping call often reveals its presence before it is seen.
Year-round
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
A common year-round resident of woodland, farmland, and gardens. Its cheerful song is one of the earliest signs of spring in Oxfordshire.
Year-round
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally turning up in birch and alder woodland. Most likely seen in irruption years from autumn through early spring.
Sep–Apr
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
An uncommon winter visitor, arriving from autumn and frequenting alder and birch trees along rivers and in wet woodland.
Sep–Apr
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
A familiar and common resident, often seen in lively flocks feeding on teasel and thistle heads along field margins and in Oxfordshire gardens.
Year-round
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
A common year-round resident, though numbers have declined sharply due to trichomonosis. Frequents gardens, hedgerows, and farmland across the county.
Year-round
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
A common resident of open farmland, downland, and scrubby margins. Often seen in twittering flocks over Oxfordshire's arable fields.
Year-round
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Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
An irruptive visitor occasionally appearing in late autumn in conifer plantations, with numbers varying greatly between years.
Oct–Dec