Hawfinch vs Resplendent Quetzal
Coccothraustes coccothraustes comparé à Pharomachrus mocinno
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Hawfinch | Resplendent Quetzal |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Coccothraustes coccothraustes | Pharomachrus mocinno |
| Ordre | Passeriformes | Trogoniformes |
| Famille | Fringillidae | Trogonidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Longueur | 18,0 cm (7.1 in) | 36,0 cm (14.2 in) |
| Envergure | 32,0 cm (12.6 in) | 50,0 cm (19.7 in) |
| Poids | 55,0 g (1.94 oz) | 210,0 g (7.41 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Seeds and kernels, especially from cherries, olives, elms, and hornbeams. The bill exerts a force … | Primarily wild avocados and other laurel family fruits, supplemented with insects, lizards, and frogs. A … |
| Taille de la couvée | 3-5 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Hawfinch
Deciduous and mixed woodland, orchards, parks, and large gardens with mature fruiting trees.
Resplendent Quetzal
Montane cloud forests at elevations between 1,200 and 3,000 meters. Requires old-growth forest with dead trees for nesting cavities.
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.
Resplendent Quetzal
Melodious, repetitive cooing: a series of 'kowee-kowee-kowee' or 'woh-woh-woh-woh' phrases. Male sings from high exposed perches in cloud forest canopy. Evocative highland call.
Geographic Range & Migration
Hawfinch
Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia. Partially migratory, with northern populations moving south in winter.
Resplendent Quetzal
Southern Mexico through Central America to western Panama. Resident in mountain cloud forests.
Statut de conservation
Hawfinch
Resplendent Quetzal
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
Resplendent Quetzal
Males have iridescent emerald-green upperparts, a crimson-red breast, and extraordinarily long green tail coverts streaming up to 65 cm beyond the tail. Females are duller with grey breasts.
Short, broad, bright yellow bill partially hidden by green feathers
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.
Resplendent Quetzal
The resplendent quetzal was considered divine by the Maya and Aztec civilizations, associated with the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Its iridescent green plumage and long tail streamers make it one of the most beautiful birds in the world. Guatemala's currency is named after this bird.