- Length
- 16 cm
- Weight
- 22 g
Presence in the Strait
Abundant resident of forests. Two subspecies: F. c. africana from the N of Africa and the European F. c. coelebs. The subspecies coelebs crosses the Strait on migration to wintering areas, while the africana does not; there have only been three records of this latter species since March 1989 on Gibraltar.
Identification
Males are more colourful than females. They have pinkish breasts and bellies, grey heads and vinous-pink ear-coverts, a slate-blue bill and black forehead. Females and juveniles are more grey-green above and paler below. In flight, all display white wing-bars and outer tail feathers. The subspecies F. c. africana differs in that males have a green mantle, grey face, black forehead and lores, small pale streak behind their eyes and pale pink underparts.
Movements
F. c. africana is sedentary in Ceuta. F. c. coelebs is a pre-Sahara migrant with peaks in 1st hf. March and 2nd hf. October.
Ring recoveries
Russia (12), Switzerland (6), Finland (3), Belgium (3), Germany (2), France (2), Poland (2), Spain (1), Morocco (1) and Sweden (1).
Bioestrecho editorial text. Last revised: 8 September 2026.