With just over two million breeding pairs this is one of Irelands most common birds. It occurs wherever trees and bushes are present with the highest densities being found in broad leaved woodlands. With just over two million breeding pairs this is one of Irelands most common birds. It occurs wherever trees and bushes are present with the highest densities being found in broad leaved woodlands. Chaffinches are social outside the breeding season often joining mixed flocks of bramblings, greenfinches, house sparrows and yellow hammers. Irish chaffinches do not normally migrate but there is a large influx of birds from Scandinavia in October/November. These arrivals birds are larger and paler, and prefer to form large flocks feeding in open fields. Irish birds prefer to keep near hedgerows and woodlands.
