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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	East African Citril	Hawfinch
Scientific Name	Crithagra hyposticta	Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Order	Passeriformes	Passeriformes
Family	Fringillidae	Fringillidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern
Length	—	18.0 cm (7.1 in)
Wingspan	12.9 cm (5.1 in)	32.0 cm (12.6 in)
Weight	12.75 g (0.45 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	2	3-5
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

East African Citril —

Hawfinch 18.0 cm

Wingspan

East African Citril 12.9 cm

Hawfinch 32.0 cm

Weight

East African Citril 12.75 g

Hawfinch 55.0 g

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

🌲 Forest

East African Citril only

🌾 Grassland

Hawfinch only

None

Hawfinch

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

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Song & Call Comparison

East African Citril

Hawfinch

Song

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

East African Citril

Hawfinch

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

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

East African Citril

Least Concern

Hawfinch

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How to Tell Them Apart

East African Citril

Hawfinch

Plumage

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.

Bill

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

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About These Birds

East African Citril

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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Related Comparisons

European Goldfinch vs Hawfinch

same-family

Northern Cardinal vs Hawfinch

look-alike

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More Birds to Explore

More from Fringillidae

Abyssinian Citril Crithagra citrinelloides African Chaffinch Fringilla spodiogenys Akekee Loxops caeruleirostris Akiapolaau Hemignathus wilsoni All Fringillidae birds →

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