Field Guide
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Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Not yet photographed by the community
Massive bill can crack cherry stones; shy woodland finch.
Species Profile
Green List (UK)
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years in the wild
- Size & Weight
- 16–18 cm, wingspan 29–33 cm; 48–62 g
- Habitat
- Open woodlands, parks, orchards, and gardens with scattered trees, particularly those with seed-bearing trees such as hornbeam and sycamore.
- UK Distribution
- Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant to southern and central England; rare breeder in small numbers, mainly in the south. More frequent in some winters (irruptive species).
- Diet
- Primarily hard seeds from trees including hornbeam, sycamore, and cherry stones; also buds, berries, and insects in summer.
- Predators
- Sparrowhawks, Eurasian kestrels, and occasionally cats; corvids may take eggs and chicks.
- Mating Season
- May to July
- Breeding
- Clutch of 4–5 eggs; incubation period 9–10 days; fledging at 13–14 days; typically one brood per year.
- Behaviour
- Often seen in small flocks, particularly in winter; exhibits acrobatic feeding behaviour, hanging from branches to extract seeds. Males perform characteristic undulating flight displays during courtship. Relatively shy and often detected by their distinctive metallic call.
- •The Hawfinch has an exceptionally powerful bill, capable of cracking open hard fruit stones that other birds cannot breach, including cherry and plum pits.
- •Numbers visiting the UK vary dramatically between years, with irruptions occurring when food fails in continental Europe.
- •Both sexes have striking black and white wing patterns that are particularly visible in flight.
- •The species has been expanding its range northwards in Europe over recent decades, likely due to climate change.
- •Hawfinches are highly nomadic, with populations moving across Europe in search of areas with abundant seed crops.
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