Bird Guide

Hawfinch vs Red Crossbill

Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)

Hawfinch

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Small57 gForest

The hawfinch has an overall length of 18 cm (7.1 in), with a wingspan that ranges from 29 to 33 cm (11 to 13 in). It weighs 46–70 g (1.6–2.5 oz) with the male being on average slightly heavier than the female. It is a robust bird with a thick neck, large round head and a wide, strong conical beak with a metallic appearance. It has short pinkish legs with a light hue and it has a short tail. It has brown eyes. The plumage of the female is slightly paler than that of the male. The overall colour is light brown, its head having an orange hue to it.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Lionel Triboulin · CC0
Photo: Andy Morffew · CC BY 2.0
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra

Small38 gForest

Crossbills are characterized by the mandibles crossing at their tips, which gives the group its English name. Using their crossed mandibles for leverage, crossbills are able to efficiently separate the scales of conifer cones and extract the seeds on which they feed. Adult males tend to be red or orange in colour, and females green or yellow, but there is much variation. The distinctive crossed mandibles eliminate most other species, but this feature is shared by the similar two-barred crossbill, with which it overlaps considerably in range.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0
Photo: Marcin Zuwała · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Hawfinch and Red Crossbill.