Eurasian bullfinch

Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Eurasian bullfinch
Photo: Francis C. Franklin, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Eurasian bullfinch
Photo: Andy Morffew, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Eurasian bullfinch
Photo: Tlusťa, CC BY, Wikimedia Commons

About

The Eurasian bullfinch is known to everyone, although it is mostly seen in winter when the red-breasted birds come to gardens and rowans. However, in Ukraine, the Eurasian bullfinch nests only in the Carpathians and Polissia, while migrating and wintering throughout the country. In the Carpathians, it lives in coniferous and mixed forests, at forest edges, and among young trees. In neighboring Poland, Eurasian bullfinches have nested almost exclusively in the mountains for two centuries.

The bird is 15–19 cm long and weighs 22–33 g, sturdy, with a short thick beak. The male has a black crown, chin, and around the beak with a metallic sheen, a gray back, and bright red cheeks and breast. The female has the same black cap, but her breast is grayish-brown. The white undertail is clearly visible in flight. The Eurasian bullfinch is mostly resident: only birds from the northern taiga fully migrate for the winter.

The Eurasian bullfinch is quiet and inconspicuous, so it is more often heard than seen in the forest. The common call is a soft, low, mournful whistle "pyu". The song consists of quiet creaky chirps and gentle whistles and can only be heard up close.

The Eurasian bullfinch feeds on seeds and buds of trees, and in winter also on berries; in autumn and early winter, it especially enjoys ash seeds. Due to its love for the buds of fruit trees, the Eurasian bullfinch was once considered a garden pest. The Eurasian bullfinch is not listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Where in the Carpathians

fewermore7 352 records in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries
Slovakia · Poland · Czechia · Romania · Hungary · Ukraine · Austria · Serbia
Mountain ranges
Moravian-Silesian Beskids, Volovec Mountains, High Tatras, Western Tatras, Skole Beskids, Low Tatras, Żywiec Beskids, Gorce, Silesian Beskids, Bucegi Mountains
Altitude belts
Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sightings

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ

Do Eurasian bullfinches live in the Carpathians in summer?

Yes. In Ukraine, the Eurasian bullfinch nests only in the Carpathians and Polissia, while in winter it can be seen throughout the country.

What does the voice of the Eurasian bullfinch sound like?

It is a soft, low, mournful whistle "pyu". The song is quiet and can only be heard up close.

Similar species

Red crossbillRed crossbillLoxia curvirostraA bird with a crossed bill that extracts seeds from cones. A resident of spruce forests, capable of nesting even in winter.
Eurasian chaffinchEurasian chaffinchFringilla coelebsThe loudest singer of the spring forest: a ringing trill with a 'stroke' at the end. A very numerous bird of forests and gardens.
RowanEdible only after cookingRowanSorbus aucupariaA tree with orange-red clusters that grows up to the upper forest limit. The berries are conditionally edible: they are collected after frost and cooked.

Where to meet it

Trails

Hrebeniv village, via Mount Kudriavets and Mount Lopata to SkoleModerateTwo-dayHrebeniv village to Skolevia Mount Kudriavets, Mount LopataElevation profile437–1 242 m18 kmascent 780 m≈ 6 h walkingHrebeniv village, via Kudriavets village and Lopata village to SkoleModerateTwo-dayHrebeniv village to Skolevia Kudriavets village, Lopata villageElevation profile437–1 242 m16.9 kmascent 779 m≈ 6 h walkingTukhlia village, via Mount Kindrat, Mount Matahiv, Mount Lopata and Mount Kudriavets to SkoleHardMulti-dayTukhlia village to Skolevia Mount Kindrat, Mount Matahiv +2Elevation profile445–1 265 m29.6 kmascent 1 569 m≈ 10.5 h walkingNo. 5001-1 Turka – source of the Dniester – RozluchModerateTwo-dayMarkedNo. 5001-1 Turka Rozluchvia source of the DniesterElevation profile539–907 m19 kmascent 568 m≈ 6 h walkingNo. 502-1 Drohobych – RozluchHardMulti-dayMarkedNo. 502-1 Drohobych RozluchElevation profile292–733 m78.1 kmascent 921 mDubyna village, via Kamianka Waterfall, Mount Lopata and Mount Matahiv to Tukhlia villageHardMulti-dayDubyna village to Tukhlia villagevia Kamianka Waterfall, Mount Lopata +1Elevation profile418–1 233 m38.8 kmascent 1 600 m≈ 13 h walking
No. 5002 Tukhlia – Lybokhora – SlavskoModerateTwo-dayMarkedNo. 5002 Tukhlia Slavskovia LybokhoraElevation profile542–951 m20.3 kmascent 815 m≈ 6.5 h walkingTukhlia village, via Mount Makivka to SlavskeHardTwo-dayTukhlia village to Slavskevia Mount MakivkaElevation profile521–1 090 m23.2 kmascent 1 065 m≈ 8 h walkingNo. 5004 Korostiv – SviatoslavEasyOne-dayMarkedNo. 5004 Korostiv SviatoslavElevation profile468–532 m5.5 kmascent 14 m≈ 1.5 h walkingNo. 503-1 Staryi Sambir – SkhidnytsiaHardMulti-dayMarkedNo. 503-1 Staryi Sambir SkhidnytsiaElevation profile340–826 m57 kmascent 1 054 mSlavske village, via the Bukovets Pass to Lake SynevyrHardMulti-daySlavske village to Lake Synevyrvia the Bukovets PassElevation profile587–1 306 m53.8 kmascent 1 585 mNo. 5011 Slavsko «Where Three Regions Meet»HardTwo-dayMarkedNo. 5011 Slavsko «Where Three Regions Meet»Elevation profile592–1 287 m24.5 kmascent 1 326 m≈ 9 h walking

Peaks and meadows

Mount RozluchPeakMount RozluchRozluchaltitude 933 m1 trail to the topRozluch is a 933 m mountain in the Upper Dniester Beskids, the highest point of the Rozluch ridge.Mount ZeleminPeakMount ZeleminHrebenivaltitude 1 177 m · Skole Beskids range1 trail to the topZelemin is a 1,177 m summit in the north-western part of the Zelemianka ridge in the Skole Beskids (Lviv Oblast).Mount LopataPeakMount LopataKorostivaltitude 1 211 m14 trails to the topThe mountain is located on the Zelemyanka ridge at a distance of 8 km south of the town of Skole.Mount MakivkaPeakMount MakivkaSlavskealtitude 958 m2 trails to the topMakivka is a mountain in the High Beskid about 8 km north of the town of Slavske in Lviv Oblast.Mount YavirnykPeakMount YavirnykVerkhnyachkaaltitude 1 120 m · Borzhava range17 trails to the topYavirnyk Velykyi (1120) is a mountain located on the border of Lviv and Zakarpattia regions.Mount Horodyshche (Boryslav)PeakMount Horodyshche (Boryslav)Boryslavaltitude 646 mHorodyshche (646 m; other sources give 641.8 m) is a hill in the Upper Dniester Beskids and the highest point of the...
Mount OpolonekPeakMount OpolonekUzhokaltitude 1 028 mOpolonek (also Opolonyk) is a 1,028 m mountain in the Bieszczady, part of the Eastern Beskids.Mount Makovytsia (Kryvopillia)PeakMount Makovytsia (Kryvopillia)Kryvopilliaaltitude 1 161 mMakovytsia is a 1,161 m summit above the village of Kryvopillia (about 2.3 km) in the Verkhovyna district of Ivano...Polonyna Psarivka, BystretsMountain meadowPolonyna Psarivka, BystretsVerkhovynaUkrainians, for example, call such meadows polonyny. Today we will talk about the Psarivka meadow.Mount PereibaPeakMount PereibaSyhlovatealtitude 1 018 m · Watershed Ridge range1 trail to the topPereiba is a 1,018 m summit on the Vododilnyi (Verkhovyna Watershed) Ridge, not far from the Uzhok Pass, on the...Mount Beskyd VelykyiPeakMount Beskyd VelykyiSiankyaltitude 1 012 m · Watershed Ridge range1 trail to the topBeskyd Velykyi is a 1,012 m summit on the border of Lviv and Zakarpattia oblasts.Mount BobovyshchePeakMount BobovyshcheOrivaltitude 817 m4 trails to the topBobovyshche (also called Popivska) is an 817 m mountain in the Upper Dniester Beskids, Lviv Oblast.

Waters and waterfalls

DniesterRiverDniesterVovcheThe Dniester is one of the most famous and largest rivers in Ukraine. The Dniester has been used as an important...Bystrytsia Nadvirnianska RiverRiverBystrytsia Nadvirnianska RiverNadvirnaThe Bystrytsia Nadvirnianska rises on the northern slope of Mount Chorna Kleva in the Gorgany, at about 1,280 m.Stryi RiverRiverStryi RiverTurkaThe Stryi is one of the largest Carpathian tributaries of the Dniester: 232 km from its source between Mount Yavirnyk...Boryslav waterfallWaterfallBoryslav waterfallBoryslavThe Young Boryslav Waterfall is a small waterfall (falling height is about two meters).Truskavets ReservoirLakeTruskavets ReservoirTruskavetsTruskavets Reservoir, known locally as Lake Solonytsia, lies on the south-eastern edge of Truskavets, next to the...Swan Lake, ChortoryaLakeSwan Lake, ChortoryaChortoriaHe is associated with a story about swans on the lake that come here with the onset of cold weather.
Mountain Polyanytske Lake (Dead Lake)LakeMountain Polyanytske Lake (Dead Lake)BukovetsMountain Lake (another name - Dead Lake) is a picturesque mountain lake of natural origin in the Ukrainian...Svicha RiverRiverSvicha RiverVyhodaThe Svicha is a 107-km right-bank tributary of the Dniester. It rises on the northern slopes of the main Gorgany...Cheremosh RiverRiverCheremosh RiverVyzhnytsiaThe Cheremosh is born near Usteriky, where the Chornyi Cheremosh and the Bilyi Cheremosh meet.

Mountain ranges: Skole Beskids, Bieszczady. In other countries: 🇨🇿 Moravian-Silesian Beskids, 🇸🇰 Volovec Mountains, 🇸🇰 High Tatras, 🇸🇰 Western Tatras, 🇸🇰 Low Tatras, 🇵🇱 Żywiec Beskids, 🇵🇱 Gorce, 🇵🇱 Silesian Beskids, 🇷🇴 Bucegi Mountains, 🇵🇱 Babia Góra, 🇷🇴 Piatra Craiului, 🇸🇰 Greater Fatra

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 09.11.2026.