Common Kingfisher vs Hawfinch
Alcedo atthis comparé à Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Common Kingfisher | Hawfinch |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Alcedo atthis | Coccothraustes coccothraustes |
| Ordre | Coraciiformes | Passeriformes |
| Famille | Alcedinidae | Fringillidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 17,0 cm (6.7 in) | 18,0 cm (7.1 in) |
| Envergure | 25,0 cm (9.8 in) | 32,0 cm (12.6 in) |
| Poids | 36,0 g (1.27 oz) | 55,0 g (1.94 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. Hunts from a low perch over water, diving headfirst … | Seeds and kernels, especially from cherries, olives, elms, and hornbeams. The bill exerts a force … |
| Taille de la couvée | 3-10 | 3-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Aucun(e)
Common Kingfisher only
Hawfinch only
Common Kingfisher
Clear, slow-flowing rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds with suitable perching and nesting banks. Requires clean water with good fish populations.
Hawfinch
Deciduous and mixed woodland, orchards, parks, and large gardens with mature fruiting trees.
Song & Call Comparison
Common Kingfisher
A sharp, penetrating 'chee' whistle given in flight, often the first indication of its presence. Short, shrill single note as it darts low over rivers. Contact call is a rippling …
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
Common Kingfisher
Widespread across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Northern populations migrate south in winter.
Hawfinch
Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia. Partially migratory, with northern populations moving south in winter.
Statut de conservation
Common Kingfisher
Hawfinch
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Kingfisher
Brilliant electric blue upperparts and orange underparts. Blue-green crown with darker barring. White throat patch and cheek spots. A flash of blue in flight.
Long, straight, dagger-like dark bill — orange base on the lower mandible in females
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
Common Kingfisher
The common kingfisher is a dazzling jewel of waterways, its iridescent blue plumage caused by light refraction in the feather structure rather than pigment. These birds inspired the design of the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan — the shape of their bill was copied to reduce sonic booms when trains exit tunnels.
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.