Eurasian Bullfinch

Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) is a thickset finch with a short black bill, black cap and tail and grey back; males have rose-red underparts while females are buff-brown. Body shape, bill structure, plumage pattern and voice provide the strongest field characters. Age, sex and season may alter its appearance, so identification should combine several features and careful direct field comparisons with similar species in the same habitat (Wikipedia, general species account).

It inhabits woodland, scrub and gardens across Eurasia, feeding quietly on buds, seeds and berries, usually in pairs or small groups, with some northern populations moving south in winter. Its movements and social behaviour vary through the year, with breeding birds generally more dispersed and non-breeding birds gathering where food is concentrated. Japanese records place it within the country's documented avifauna as a resident, migrant or visitor (Wikipedia, general species account; Wildlife of Japan occurrence records).