-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Chaffinches on Feeders (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter MattG
- Start date
dantheman
Bah humbug
Someone might have the specifics, but presumably it's to do with the mobility of their toe/foot joints? I mean Chaffinches feed on the ground (or on horizontal branches or even twigs) but never (?) on thinner ends or upside down etc as the others can ...
??
Last edited:
Richard Prior
Halfway up an Alp
It’s a good question as in our garden the Chaffinches never try to jump onto the feeders but Brambling (sometimes) successfully do.
It just got me thinking why they are so different. I know they are ground feeding birds but the Chaffinchs in my garden are trying to successfully cling onto the feeders but really struggle too. That's even with food on the ground lol.
Welsh Peregrine
Well-known member
There is a major split in Fringillidae between Chaffinch and Brambling, and all the rest; whether there is something anatomical which leads to a difference in clinging ability I do not know.
Welsh Peregrine
Well-known member
No luck so far finding any anatomical correlate, but it is generally noted that Carduelines grasp and hang whereas Fringillines don’t.
Similar threads
