A bullfinch is a small, plump songbird found across Europe and Asia, famous for the male's brilliant pink-red chest that looks almost painted on. These birds have black caps on their heads, gray backs, and white rumps that flash when they fly. Females wear softer gray-brown colors instead of the bright red.

Bullfinches live in woodlands, hedgerows, and gardens, where they eat seeds, buds, and berries. In spring, they sometimes frustrate gardeners by nibbling fruit tree buds, but they also eat weed seeds and insects. Their call is a soft, sad-sounding whistle that sounds a bit like “phew.”

These shy birds usually travel in pairs or small family groups, and they're harder to spot than many other garden birds because they prefer to stay hidden in thick bushes and trees. If you see a flash of rosy pink flitting through hedgerows in Europe, you've probably spotted a male bullfinch showing off his remarkable color.