24 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Brambling, 



The Brambling {Fringilla moniifriiigilla^ Linnaeus) is a 

 common autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles, 

 and is also found throughout most of the Palearctic Region, 

 nesting in the Far North. The adult male in nuptial 

 plumage has the general colour above, also sides of neck, 

 ear-coverts, and cheeks, glossy black ; lesser wing-coverts, 

 orange-chestnut ; median coverts, white ; greater coverts, 

 with white tips ; rump, white ; a white speculum on the 

 wing ; tail, black ; outermost feathers, partly white ; chin 

 and throat, ochreous ; remainder of under parts, ochreous, 

 tinged with red, gradually turning into whitish on belly and 

 under tail-coverts ; sides, spotted with black ; irides, dark 

 brown; bill, black; legs and feet, brown. Length, from 

 five to six inches. 



