Hawfinch vs House Sparrow
Coccothraustes coccothraustes comparé à Passer domesticus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Hawfinch | House Sparrow |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Coccothraustes coccothraustes | Passer domesticus |
| Ordre | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Famille | Fringillidae | Passeridae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 18,0 cm (7.1 in) | 16,0 cm (6.3 in) |
| Envergure | 32,0 cm (12.6 in) | 25,0 cm (9.8 in) |
| Poids | 55,0 g (1.94 oz) | 30,0 g (1.06 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Seeds and kernels, especially from cherries, olives, elms, and hornbeams. The bill exerts a force … | Primarily seeds and grains, supplemented with insects during breeding season. Readily exploits human food scraps … |
| Taille de la couvée | 3-5 | 1-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Hawfinch
Deciduous and mixed woodland, orchards, parks, and large gardens with mature fruiting trees.
House Sparrow
Closely associated with human habitation. Found in cities, towns, farms, and any built environment. Rarely found far from people.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
House Sparrow
Monotonous series of chirping 'cheep' and 'chirrup' notes. Male gives 'chilp' song repeatedly. Flocks produce constant chirping chatter. No melodic song; purely functional calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Hawfinch
Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia. Partially migratory, with northern populations moving south in winter.
House Sparrow
Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Introduced to every continent except Antarctica, making it the most widely distributed wild bird.
Statut de conservation
Hawfinch
House Sparrow
How to Tell Them Apart
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
House Sparrow
Males have grey crowns, chestnut napes, black bibs, and streaked brown backs. Females and juveniles are plain buffy-brown with a pale eyebrow stripe.
Short, stout, conical bill — black in breeding males, yellowish in non-breeding
About These Birds
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.
House Sparrow
The house sparrow is perhaps the most successful bird in the world at living alongside humans. Introduced to New York in 1851, it spread across North America within decades. Despite its global abundance, house sparrow populations have declined significantly in parts of western Europe.