Redpoll vs Hawfinch
Acanthis flammea compared with Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Redpoll | Hawfinch |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Acanthis flammea | Coccothraustes coccothraustes |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae | Fringillidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 18.0 cm (7.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 15.2 cm (6.0 in) | 32.0 cm (12.6 in) |
| Weight | 15.466666666666667 g (0.55 oz) | 55.0 g (1.94 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Seeds and kernels, especially from cherries, olives, elms, and hornbeams. The bill exerts a force … |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | 3-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Hawfinch
Deciduous and mixed woodland, orchards, parks, and large gardens with mature fruiting trees.
Song & Call Comparison
Redpoll
Hawfinch
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Redpoll
Hawfinch
Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia. Partially migratory, with northern populations moving south in winter.
Conservation Status
Redpoll
Hawfinch
How to Tell Them Apart
Redpoll
Hawfinch
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.
Enormously powerful, conical, pale bill capable of cracking cherry and olive stones
About These Birds
Redpoll
The Redpoll (<em>Acanthis flammea</em>) is a small finch belonging to the family Fringillidae (Finches). Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature. It is among the more habitat-versatile members of its family, occurring in coastal areas, desert margins, forests, grasslands, and wetlands. The species constructs a cup nest (CP type); clutch size typically ranges from 3 to 7 eggs, with incubation lasting 10–12 days and fledging at 9–16 days. The Redpoll is assessed as …
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.