Atlas Chaffinch - Fringilla spodiogenys africana
On Friday 4 April 2003 when birding along the Slufterweg, Maasvlakte ZH, Hugo van der Slot found a male Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs which he considered as aberrant and after consulting some field guides he came to the conclusion it had to be an Atlas Chaffinch - Fringilla spodiogenys africana on basis of, eg, the sparrow-like chep call, the greenish mantle and rump, blue-grey uppertail-coverts and prominent pink wash on the underparts. The next day on Saturday 5 April, the bird was still present an could be observed by many birders.
In 2022 the CSNA decided to consider Atlas Chaffinch as a separate species based on an article by María Recuerda et al 2021.
5 April 2003, Maasvlakte ZH; © Harm Niesen.
5 April 2003, Maasvlakte ZH; © Harm Niesen.
5 April 2003, Maasvlakte ZH; © Harm Niesen.
It was accepted as the second record for the Netherlands. The first record was a female on 30 April 1999 in the eastern part of the Eemshaven Gr.
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