It is a pity that this striking bird has such a bad reputation for attacking fruit-buds in orchards, for it is a beautiful member of the finch family. The bullfinch is believed to mate for life, and usually the pair will be found near each other. The male (shown here) has a blue-grey back and red breast. The female is brown, with black and white markings - and no red breast. The nest consists of a basis of sticks supporting a shallow cup of roots and a lining of hair, and is built in a hedge or bush, and well-concealed.
