European Goldfinch vs Hawfinch

Carduelis carduelis مقارنةً بـ Coccothraustes coccothraustes

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة European Goldfinch Hawfinch
الاسم العلمي Carduelis carduelis Coccothraustes coccothraustes
الرتبة Passeriformes Passeriformes
الفصيلة Fringillidae Fringillidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول 13,0 cm (5.1 in) 18,0 cm (7.1 in)
طول الجناح 23,0 cm (9.1 in) 32,0 cm (12.6 in)
الوزن 16,0 g (0.56 oz) 55,0 g (1.94 oz)
النظام الغذائي Seeds, especially thistle (Carduus) and teasel seeds, extracted with its precise tweezer-like bill. Also takes … Seeds and kernels, especially from cherries, olives, elms, and hornbeams. The bill exerts a force …
عدد البيض في الوضع 4-6 3-5
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
European Goldfinch 13,0 cm
Hawfinch 18,0 cm
طول الجناح
European Goldfinch 23,0 cm
Hawfinch 32,0 cm
الوزن
European Goldfinch 16,0 g
Hawfinch 55,0 g
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

European Goldfinch only

Hawfinch only

بلا

European Goldfinch

Open woodland, orchards, gardens, parks, and weedy fields with seed-bearing plants. Common at garden bird feeders.

Hawfinch

Deciduous and mixed woodland, orchards, parks, and large gardens with mature fruiting trees.

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Song & Call Comparison

European Goldfinch

الغناء

A liquid, tinkling 'swit-swit-swit' in flight and a melodic twittering song. Flocks produce a bright jingling chorus. Male song is a sweet repetitive warble incorporating the flight call.

Hawfinch

الغناء

A sharp, metallic 'tsick' call — the primary vocalization and often all that's heard. Song is a thin, reedy warble. Generally inconspicuous vocally despite its striking appearance.

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Geographic Range & Migration

European Goldfinch

Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America.

Hawfinch

Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia. Partially migratory, with northern populations moving south in winter.

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حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

European Goldfinch

Least Concern

Hawfinch

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How to Tell Them Apart

European Goldfinch

الريش

Crimson red face with white cheeks and a black crown. Sandy-brown back with a bright yellow wing bar visible in flight. Black and white tail.

المنقار

Slender, pointed, ivory-pink bill adapted for extracting seeds from thistles

Hawfinch

الريش

Orange-brown head with a black bib and eye stripe. Warm brown back, grey nape, and broad white wing bar. Massive head and bill give a top-heavy appearance.

المنقار

Enormously powerful, conical, pale bill capable of cracking cherry and olive stones

Key Differences

  • • Weight: European Goldfinch (16g) vs Hawfinch (55g)
  • • Length: European Goldfinch (13 cm) vs Hawfinch (18 cm)
  • • Wingspan: European Goldfinch (23 cm) vs Hawfinch (32 cm)
  • • Habitat: European Goldfinch prefers Open woodland, orchards, gardens, parks, and weedy fields wi; Hawfinch prefers Deciduous and mixed woodland, orchards, parks, and large gar
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About These Birds

European Goldfinch

The European goldfinch is a strikingly beautiful finch whose tinkling song and colorful plumage have made it popular in art and as a caged bird for centuries. It appears frequently in Renaissance paintings as a symbol of the Passion of Christ. Flocks of goldfinches are charmingly called a charm.

Hawfinch

The hawfinch possesses the most powerful bill relative to body size of any European bird, capable of cracking cherry stones that require a force of 27-43 kg. Despite its distinctive appearance, it is famously shy and difficult to observe. The skull contains special adaptations to absorb the enormous forces generated during seed-cracking.

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