CHAFFINCH, a bird (Fringilla coelebs), belonging to the family Fringillidae (see FINCH), distinguished, in the male sex, by the deep greyish blue of its crown feathers, the yellowish green of its rump, two conspicuous bars of white on the wing coverts, and the reddish brown passing into vinous red of the throat and breast. The female is drab, but shows the same white markings as the male ; the young males resemble the females until after the first autumn moult. The chaffinch breeds early, and its song may be heard in February. It builds its nest on trees and bushes, preferring those overgrown with lichens. The nest is composed of moss and wool, lined with grass and feathers. It lays four or five eggs of a pale purplish buff, streaked and spotted with pur plish red. In spring the chaffinch is destructive to early flowers, and to young radishes and turnips; in summer it feeds on insects and their larvae, while in autumn and winter its food consists of grain and other seeds. On the continent of Europe the chaffinch is a favourite song-bird. In winter chaffinches form small flocks, often composed solely of males.