Coniferous forests are home to the most common bird species in Finland, the willow warbler and the common chaffinch
Coniferous forests are the most common forest type in Finland. As such, it is only natural for the birds that prefer coniferous forests to be among the most common bird species in Finland. The most common is the common chaffinch, the population of which is estimated to amount to approximately 7.5 million pairs. Next, not far behind, is the willow warbler.
The bird density of a coniferous forest depends on the forest type: herb-rich and young coniferous forests are the densest, while rugged coniferous forests are less dense, in terms of bird pairs. On average, the bird density of the coniferous forests of southern Finland is approximately 200 pairs per square kilometre, which is considerably lower than the 1,000 pairs per square kilometre of Ruissalo’s herb-rich forests. That’s not to say that coniferous forests are devoid of birdsong in the spring, however! In addition to the common chaffinch and willow warbler, the songs of the tree pipit, European robin, goldcrest, redwing, song thrush, great tit and Eurasian blue tit are easy to discern. When twilight falls, the long-beaked Eurasian woodcock takes off from the forest floor for its courtship display flight, which is accompanied by its rolling orr-orr-orr and sharp pist calls.
