Madeira chaffinch
The Madeira chaffinch (Fringilla maderensis) is a small bird in the finch family. It used to be thought of as just a subspecies of the Eurasian chaffinch, but in 2021 scientists agreed it is a separate species after genetic and physical studies.
It lives only on Madeira, a Portuguese island in the North Atlantic. Locals call it tentilhão. It is not found on the other islands in the Madeira archipelago.
Male and female look different. The male has a pinkish chest, a bluish-grey cap, and a greenish-brown back. The female has a cream-colored chest and a brown back. Both have prominent white wing bars and white on the sides of the tail.
The Madeira chaffinch is about 14.5 to 16 cm long (roughly 5.7 to 6.3 inches).
Habitat and range: It can be found across Madeira, from native laurel forests to plantations, as well as heath, farmland, and shrubland.
Breeding: They nest from April to July. The female builds a cup-shaped nest lined with feathers and lays four or five eggs. She incubates them for 12 to 15 days, while the male helps feed the chicks.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 00:12 (CET).