Hawfinch

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Family:

Finches

Length:

18cm

Wingspan:

29cm to 33cm

Weight:

48g to 62g

About the Hawfinch

Hawfinches are secretive and shy birds, which makes them quite difficult to spot although they are the largest member of the finch family here in the UK.

They have large, powerful dark beaks and feather colourings of oranges, browns, whites and dark detailing on the outer wing.

In recent years, traditional breeding areas have severely declined.

What does a Hawfinch eat?

Their diets mainly consist of seeds, shoots and buds.

Other birds in the Finches family

Common Crossbill (Balearic)

Twite

Siskin

The siskin is one of the UK’s smallest and prettiest resident finches.

Serin

Scottish Crossbill

Parrot Crossbill

Linnet

This small to medium sized finch is a breeding resident found throughout the UK apart from the far west of northern Scotland. A social bird, it often feeds in flocks throughout the year.

Lesser Redpoll

Small finch with a distinctive red forehead.

Greenfinch

Slightly larger than a sparrow this pretty and social bird is a regular garden visitor.

Goldfinch

An exquisite little bird, distinguished by red face and characteristic bright yellow wing bands.

Common Rosefinch

Crossbill

This medium sized finch is a specialised feeder with a chunky downwards curving beak which is crossed at its end giving rise to its descriptive name.

Common Redpoll

Chaffinch

With its powerful voice and frequent singing, the chaffinch is one of the birds most heard in woodland and parks.

Bullfinch

One of the largest and most colourful finches.

Brambling

Although monotypic, the brambling is a close relative of the chaffinch with whom it often flocks. Found almost exclusively across the northern palearctic it migrates south in September returning to its breeding grounds in April each year.