Chaffinch
![](https://oldwww.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/image/0003/119667/varieties/thumb200.png)
What's in a name? In the case of the chaffinch, quite a bit! Their name arose because they fed on the split chaff from working horse nosebags. Likewise, the flocking behaviour of the male birds (coelebs = bachelor) is reflected in their Latin name (Fringilla coelebs).
Scientific name: Fringilla coelebs
Other names: common chaffinch, pahirin
New Zealand Status: Introduced
Conservation Status: Naturalised
Where they feed: Ground, shrubs and trees.
What they eat: Seeds, invertebrates, fruits