Habitat: Orchards, plantations, parks, cemeteries, forest edges. Outside breeding season also in small groups on farmland.

Appearance: Resident bird along the Mediterranean and summer visitor further north. In Belgium and the Netherlands extremely rare breeding bird – year bird – partially migratory – winter visitor in very small numbers.

Breeding season: April to July, nests in trees, 3 to 6 eggs.

Characteristics: Length 11 cm, wingspan 21 to 23 cm, weight 10 to 13 grams.

Food: Seeds and insects.