Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) in Schaijk, Netherlands
Photo taken on 10 May 2025.
The apple finch is an imposing presence in Dutch forests. With its substantial bill and compact build, it is the largest of the finches in our country. Its powerful beak can easily crack hard cherry or beech seeds - something few songbirds imitate it.
The apple finch is about 18 centimetres tall, with a remarkably thick neck and a heavy head. Adult birds are beautifully marked: warm brown with a pink to orange-brown head, a black throat patch and a blue sheen on the stout bill in the breeding season. Its short tail and broad wings with white and black highlights make it easily recognisable in flight too.
Although it is relatively shy and often hides high in the canopy, it pays to look closely: especially in May, as in the 10 May 2025 photo, it is more likely to be observed foraging or singing. Its song is short and inconspicuous, but the sharp "tsik" or "pix" as a call does stand out.
The Hawfinch lives mainly in deciduous and mixed forests, but also in parks with old trees. It nests in a loose bowl of twigs, often well hidden in the crown of a tree.
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