Hawfinch: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Garden Birds of Europe · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. The hawfinch's jaw muscles squeeze with a force like a load of 30 to 48 kg. That is enough to crack cherry, plum and even olive stones.
2. Its scientific name is a job description: it comes from Greek words for a seed and for breaking or shattering.
3. Courting hawfinches face each other and touch bills. The male then puffs up his head and chest feathers, droops his wings and takes a deep bow.
4. Unusually for its finch family, it is the male who picks the nest spot and lays down the first twigs. A few days later, the female carries on.
5. Shy and hard to watch, it spends much of the day high in the treetops. But at food and water, it bosses other birds, even bigger ones.

The quiz

1. Which tough fruit stones can a hawfinch crack?

• Coconuts
• Cherry and plum stones (correct)
• Walnut shells only
• None, it eats only insects

Its jaw muscles press with a force like 30 to 48 kg, enough for cherry and plum stones.

2. What does the hawfinch's scientific name mean in Greek?

• Red head
• Short tail
• Tree singer
• Seed breaker (correct)

It comes from Greek words for seed and to break.

3. What does a courting male hawfinch do?

• Makes a deep bow (correct)
• Dances on the water
• Brings the female a flower
• Sings loudly all night

He puffs up his feathers, droops his wings and makes a deep bow.

4. Who chooses the nest site in hawfinches?

• The female
• Last year's young
• The male (correct)
• The oldest bird in the flock

The male chooses the site and starts building, which is rare among these finches.

5. How does the shy hawfinch behave at food and water?

• It always waits its turn
• It bosses other birds, even bigger ones (correct)
• It only drinks at night
• It hides under the water

While eating and drinking it is fairly aggressive and dominant, even towards bigger birds.

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