Black-headed Greenfinch vs Hawfinch
Chloris ambigua compared with Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-headed Greenfinch | Hawfinch |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chloris ambigua | Coccothraustes coccothraustes |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae | Fringillidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 18.0 cm (7.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 15.6 cm (6.1 in) | 32.0 cm (12.6 in) |
| Weight | 15.5 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 | 3-4 | 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
Black-headed Greenfinch
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
Black-headed Greenfinch
Hawfinch
Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia. Partially migratory, with northern populations moving south in winter.
Conservation Status
Black-headed Greenfinch
Hawfinch
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-headed Greenfinch
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
Black-headed Greenfinch
The Black-headed Greenfinch is a medium-sized finch with a black head, dark olive-green body, and bright yellow wing patches and tail edges. It inhabits open forest, secondary growth, and scrubby hillsides from northeastern India through southern China and Vietnam. It feeds on seeds, berries, and buds, often foraging in the forest canopy and along woodland edges.
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.