- It is migratory and found throughout Europe, from southern Scandinavia to North Africa and from Great Britain and Ireland eastward to the Urals and western Siberia.
- Populations breeding in the northeastern parts of the range winter to the British Isles, southern Europe and North Africa, while eastern birds travel southeast to Pakistan and northern India.
- It is a common songbird in gardens, parks and open woodland.
- The chaffinch is a slightly built, compact bird with a dark brown crown and cheeks.
- Its upperparts are reddish brown, while its rump is green and its tail is dark, forked and edged with white.
- The male has a vibrant blue patch on the shoulder, which is bordered by a red-brown flank and a white bar.
- The female is a duller bird with a greenish head, a light-coloured crown stripe, and two pale wing bars.
- The species is 14–18 cm long and has a wingspan of 24–29 cm, the female is slightly smaller and lighter than the male.
- The chaffinch feeds mainly on seeds and buds, but it also eats fruits, insects and some invertebrates.
- It is known for its melodic and melodious song, which typically begins with a rapid, high-pitched flourish followed by a series of sweeter, lower-pitched notes.
- The song of the chaffinch is described as "link, link, chee chee chee" and is also referred to as "twink".