The Eurasian bullfinch was formally described in 1758 by Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Loxia pyrrhula.

The adult male has a distinctive rich red chest and underparts, but females and young birds have grey-buff feathers instead.

It builds its nest in a bush, (preferably more than four metres tall and wide), mature stands of scrub, or tree, laying four to seven pale blue eggs which are mottled with red-brown.

[12] The food is mainly seeds and buds of fruit trees, which can make it a pest in orchards: in England, for centuries every parish paid a bounty for every Eurasian bullfinch killed.

[13] If wild bird cover is planted for it, kale, quinoa and millet are preferred, next to tall hedges or woodland.