The Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) is a passerine bird from the finch family Fringillidae and is the sole species in its genus. It breeds across Europe and temperate Asia, typically residing in deciduous or mixed woodlands with large trees, favoring areas with hornbeam.
This bulky bird measures 16.5–18 cm in length, with a wingspan of 29 to 33 cm, and weighs 46–70 g. It has a distinctive orange-brown head with a black eyestripe, a powerful bill, and striking white wing bars. Males are slightly heavier than females, with females exhibiting paler plumage.
Hawfinches are found throughout Europe, Eastern Asia, and North Africa, and have occasionally been sighted in Alaska. Their range has expanded northward since the 1950s. They primarily inhabit forests during spring for breeding but also adapt to human areas like parks and gardens. In autumn and winter, they seek out forests with abundant food sources, such as cherry and plum trees.
The hawfinch is a shy species, and therefore difficult to observe and study. It spends most of the day on top of high branches, above all during breeding season. During the course of the hawfinch’s life it can only be seen on the ground while looking for seeds or drinking water, always near trees. While drinking and eating it is fairly aggressive and dominant, towards both its same species or different ones, even bigger birds. It guards a quite small territory when its chicks are born; however, when not bearing any offspring it is known to guard entire woods. This is interpreted as an evolutionary advantage, given colony rearing is seen as safer against nest predators.
Hawfinches begin breeding at one year old and form monogamous pairs that may last from year to year. Breeding timing depends on spring temperatures, occurring earlier in southwest Europe compared to the northeast. In Britain, clutches are typically laid from late April to June.
Courtship involves elaborate displays where the male puffs up his feathers and bows to the female. Nests are usually built high in trees, primarily by the male, using dry twigs and lined with roots, grasses, and lichens. The female takes over after initial construction. Nests are often untidy, with clutches of 4-5 eggs that vary in color and shape. The eggs are incubated for 11-13 days, and both parents feed the nestlings, initially passing food through the female.
Young hawfinches fledge after 12-14 days and become independent about 30 days later. Uniquely, male hawfinches select and construct nests, while both parents keep the nest clean by removing fecal sacs until fledging. The maximum lifespan recorded is over 12 years.
The hawfinch primarily feeds on hard seeds from trees and fruit seeds, using its strong beak and powerful jaw muscles that can exert a force of about 30–48 kg to break open cherry and plum seeds. It also consumes pine seeds, berries, sprouts, and occasionally caterpillars and beetles, and can crack olive seeds. The bird often feeds in groups, especially during winter.
