Bullfinch Pair - Sexual Dimophism

I make no excuse for blipping another picture of the Bullfinches. The last time they "disappeared" I didn't see them again for months!

At least you have both of them in this one, male and female. I am hoping those who attended last nights talk at Pentyrch and watched tonight's Springwatch all turned to their partners and said Anthony said about that last night.

What am I talking about? Sexual dimorphism .. that's what we have right here!

In most species of birds (and indeed other animals) the male and the female are strikingly different. Mallard ducks are of course and excellent common example. In nearly all species it tends to be the male who is brightly coloured or has a gregarious breeding plumage. The females tend to be more dowdy. The reason is fairly obvious. The male has to do all the courtship to to attract a mate, once the female has laid eggs she has to sit on a nest for long periods, and it helps to be well camouflaged. The reason it featured on Springwatch was because Iolo Williams had gone to see some Red Necked Phalarope in the Shetlands. They are a rare species with a reverse sexual dimorphism, and the male almost exclusively brings up the chicks. It was fascinating stuff.

I, for the record, think the female Bullfinch is a stunning bird. She is a wonderfully warm chestnut brown. These have been a resident pair of love birds for days now, even co-feeding at times. I hope they continue to visit for many more weeks to come!