Short abstract from the book: The chaffinch is a very common breeding bird in Denmark
breeding in woods, parks and gardens. The highest abundance is in central Jutland. Outside the breeding season great
numbers of chaffinches pass Denmark on migration, most in
September–October and March–April.
In Denmark the first chaffinch was ringed in 1917, with the
majority ringed from the 1960s to today. The majority of the recovered birds were ringed in April–May and September–
October, and many were ringed at migration hotspots. Only
5 % of the recovered birds were ringed as chicks. The recoveries indicate that the majority of the Danish chaffinches are
residents. Fifteen per cent of the recoveries of birds ringed in
the breeding season are from abroad. Danish birds have been
recovered in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, England,
France and Spain. Seventy-seven per cent of the birds that
were ringed in the breeding season and recovered in a subsequent breeding season were recovered at the ringing site.
The migrants visiting Denmark come from Sweden,
Norway and Finland. Most of the Norwegian birds pass
Jutland, with the Swedish birds passing eastern Denmark.
The majority of the migrants continue SW, to Britain, the
Netherlands, Belgium, western France and the Iberian
Peninsula. Ninety-one per cent of the chaffinches ringed
during winter and recovered in a subsequent winter were
recovered within 10 km of the ringing site. Compared to
males, the mean position of females outside the breeding season is a little further south. Chaffinches on spring migration
pass Denmark in March–April. The fastest bird flew 322 km
from Anholt to southern Norway from 17 to 18 April.
Read more about the species in the chapter from The Danish Bird Migration Atlashere
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