Kingdom Animalia Class Aves Family Fringillidae Rank Subspecies | Phylum Chordata Order Passeriformes Genus Fringilla | |
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Similar Madeira firecrest, Trocaz pigeon, La Palma chaffinch, Zino's petrel, Plain swift | ||
Madeira bogfinke madeiran chaffinch
The Madeiran chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs maderensis) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is a subspecies of the common chaffinch that is endemic to the Portuguese island of Madeira, part of Macaronesia in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is locally known as the tentilhão.
Contents
Madeiran chaffinch
Description
The male is more brightly coloured than the female. It has a pinkish breast, bluish-grey cap and greenish-brown back. The female's colouring is more subdued with a cream breast and brownish back, but both sexes have prominent white wing-bars and tail-sides. The length is 14.5–16 cm (5.7–6.3 in).
Distribution and habitat
The chaffinch is found only on the island of Madeira, being absent from other islands in the Madeiran archipelago. It is widespread through the hills of the island, occupying both the native laurisilva forest and plantations of introduced trees, as well as in areas of heath, farmland and shrubland.
Breeding
The Madeiran chaffinch nests between April and July. The female builds a cup-shaped nest lined with feathers in which she lays a clutch of four or five eggs and which she alone incubates for 12–15 days before they hatch. The male helps to feed the chicks.