What they like

Rough edges. Scrub, hedges, young copses, orchards, parks with a bit of mess. Give them a dense hawthorn or blackthorn hedge and he'll hang around. Leave a corner with nettles and brambles. In winter: put out black sunflower seeds in a sheltered spot.

Ecological importance

A tasteful bud‑nipper. In early spring they mainly eats tree buds (think fruit trees), later also seeds and berries. By doing so they helps disperse seeds and keeps the scrub ecosystem running. Sparrowhawks and cats are serious predators, so cover is not a luxury but a necessity.

When in the Netherlands

Year‑round. In autumn and winter there are sometimes extra arrivals from the north and east.

Status

Not threatened, but sensitive to the loss of dense hedges and shrub‑rich margins. So: less neat, more shrub. Plant hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, rowan and field maple. Mow in phases and leave berry‑bearing shrubs standing well into winter.