Common resident and winter visitor.

Between 1956 and 1963 huge numbers of Chaffinches died, particularly in south east England as a result of the use of organochlorine chemicals in agriculture.

They were confirmed as breeding from nine of Stevenage’s tetrads in the 1973 Breeding Atlas, 10 in the 1992 Atlas and, three in the 2012 Atlas.

The 2012 Winter Atlas confirmed their presence from all 11 of the tetrads covering Stevenage.

The Common Bird Census at Watery Grove recorded Chaffinches as holding between one and fourteen breeding territories annually between 1972 and 1999. The lowest counts were in the 1970s with a steady increase from 1978. They were the only significant finch of the interior of the wood during that period, and appeared less dependent on coppicing.

Largest flocks recorded are, 50 in fields near Brooches Wood on 30 October 1974, 40 plus seen at Monks Wood/Whomerley Wood on 6 March 1977, and 40 plus in a mixed finch flock at Norton Green Tip on 15 March 1980.

An influx of birds from the continent was noted at Box Wood on 24 October 1981 when 10 birds of the continental race F. c. coelebs were caught and ringed.

 One ringed near Dublin in December 1983 was controlled at Stevenage in November 1984