Chaffinch.........

Why is it that the females of most species of birds are given to being given feathers of a rather drab colour.
While the male Chaffinch wears a "coat of many colours", their female counterparts, are given feathers which are pretty drab and uninspiring.
I can only think that these darker more natural colours help with camoflage when they're sat in the nest.
I very rarely see any Chaffinches close to home, so it was a nice suprise today to see around thirty of these beautiful birds while walking in the Black Mountains, close to Hay on Wye.

Larger image........

j.