The Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) is a small passerine bird belonging to the finch family, Fringillidae. Similar in size and shape to the common chaffinch, male bramblings in breeding plumage are distinctive with their black heads, dark upperparts, orange breasts, and white bellies. Females and non-breeding males exhibit more subdued colors but can be identified by their characteristic white rump visible during flight. Source
These birds breed across the forests of northern Europe and Asia, migrating southward during winter to regions including southern Europe, North Africa, northern India, China, and Japan. In winter, bramblings are highly sociable, forming large flocks that often mix with chaffinches. Their numbers can vary annually, influenced by food availability, particularly beech mast. Source
Occasionally, bramblings stray into North America, with small numbers regularly appearing in Alaska during migration. Some of these vagrants continue southward, leading to winter records in various U.S. states and Canadian provinces. Source
The brambling's diet primarily consists of seeds, especially from beech trees, but during the breeding season, they also consume insects to feed their young. Their preference for beech woodlands in winter often leads them to areas abundant in beech mast, where they can form impressively large flocks. Source
Despite their wide range and large population, bramblings are not commonly seen in some areas, making sightings a delightful experience for bird enthusiasts.
燕雀（Fringilla montifringilla）是一種屬於雀科的小型雀鳥。 雄性燕雀在繁殖季節時，具有黑色的頭部、深色的上半身、橙色的胸部和白色的腹部，十分醒目。 雌性和非繁殖期的雄鳥顏色較為樸素，但牠們飛行時可見特有的白色臀部，有助於識別。
這些鳥類在歐洲和亞洲北部的森林中繁殖，冬季則遷徙至南歐、北非、印度北部、中國和日本等地。 冬季時，燕雀喜歡群居，常與蒼頭燕雀混群。 牠們的數量每年可能因食物供應，特別是山毛櫸種子的豐富程度而有所變化。
偶爾，燕雀會迷途至北美洲，小部分會在遷徙期間出現在阿拉斯加。 其中一些會繼續向南，導致在美國各州和加拿大省份有冬季記錄。
燕雀的食物主要是種子，特別是山毛櫸的種子，但在繁殖季節，牠們也會捕食昆蟲來餵養幼鳥。 牠們對山毛櫸林地特別偏好，冬季時常在種子豐富的地區形成大規模的群體。
儘管燕雀的分佈範圍廣泛且數量龐大，但在某些地區並不常見，因此對於鳥類愛好者而言，觀察到燕雀是一件令人愉快的事。
