Chaffinch

While in Ardnamurchan with the renowned Swedish wildlife artist Lars Jonsson, I learned that chaffinches have regional accents. It is indeed possible to hear slight differences around Scotland. Chaffinches have garnered numerous old nicknames: sheltie – Fife; binkie – Ross & Cromarty; wet chaff – Angus; tree lintie – Moray; white wingie – Lanarkshire; blue cap – Aberdeenshire; brisk finch – Dumfries & Galloway; and my favourite used around the country, apple sheelie. The name chaffinch originates from the birds’ tendency to flock with other finches in arable fields to feast the chaff left after harvest.