Hawfinch vs Evening Grosbeak

Hawfinch

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

How to recognise a hawfinch?

General appearance

The hawfinch is a robust and medium-sized bird, about the size of a starling. It has a thick neck, large round head and a broad, strong conical bill. The bird's primary color is chestnut, teamed with gray, black, and white. A black throat patch, together with the blue-grey bill and cheeks make it easily recognizable.

Male vs female

Males and females are similar in appearance. However, males often have slightly brighter chestnut colors on their plumage and a broader black eyestripe. In females, these features are more muted. Regardless of their sex, hawfinches have a striking, contrasting coloration, which makes them easily identifiable.

Juvenile

Juvenile hawfinches bear a resemblance to the adults but have duller coloration and less distinct markings. They have more mottled brown coloring and less distinctive facial patterns. In addition, juveniles display a pinkish, rather than blue-grey bill.

Size

6.3 - 7.1 in/1.6 - 2.5 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Hawfinches primarily inhabit deciduous and mixed woodlands, especially those with abundant hornbeam, oak, and cherry trees. They prefer habitats offering dense cover and open areas for feeding.

Additional range

Their range includes Europe, parts of Asia, and occasionally North Africa. They may occupy parks and gardens in urban areas during winter. Prefers temperate climates but can adapt to colder regions.

Range Map

What do hawfinches like to eat?

Natural diet

The hawfinch's natural diet primarily consists of seeds, nuts, and fruit kernels. They have strong bills capable of cracking open hard seeds like cherry stones, olive pits, and beech nuts. In addition to these, they consume a variety of buds, shoots, and caterpillars, particularly during the breeding season when extra protein is required.

Bird feeders

While hawfinches are primarily known for consuming natural sources of food, they may occasionally visit bird feeders. At feeders, they might eat sunflower seeds and peanuts, drawn by their high energy content and ease of access, although they are not as frequent visitors as some other finch species.

What does a hawfinch sound like?

The hawfinch possesses a quiet and discreet vocalization. Its typical call is a sharp "pix" or "tic-tic", often heard in flight. The song, rarely performed and mostly sung at dawn, is a subdued warble interspersed with typical call notes. Another common sound is a soft nasal "chenk", resembling a sneeze. It is not a highly vocal bird, often remaining silent, especially in winter.

Call

Audio by Benoît Van Hecke

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Alexander Kurthy

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

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Evening Grosbeak

Hesperiphona vespertina

How to recognise an evening grosbeak?

General appearance

The Evening Grosbeak is a stocky bird with a thick, stout bill. Its coloration is primarily that of yellow and black, with the body appearing mostly yellow and wings and tail being marked with black. The bill is a pale color, often appearing nearly white.

Male vs female

Males and females display significant sexual dimorphism. Males are more brightly colored, with a vibrant yellow body, a brownish-black head, and black wings featuring striking white patches. Females, on the other hand, are less vibrant with more of a grey-brown body and white markings on the wings. Both genders share the feature of a pale, stout bill.

Juvenile

Juvenile Evening Grosbeaks appear similar to adult females, with more subdued coloration than males. As they age, they gradually acquire their adult colors, males becoming vibrant yellow and females settling into their more muted brown and white tones.

Size

6.5 - 7.1 in/1.9 - 2.6 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The evening grosbeak prefers coniferous forests in Canada and the northern United States. They thrive in cool, temperate climates amidst pines, spruces, and firs.

Additional range

During winter, they may inhabit mixed woodlands, suburban areas, and occasionally venture into the southern U.S., adapting to varied environments for food availability.

Range Map

What do evening grosbeaks like to eat?

Natural diet

The evening grosbeak primarily feeds on seeds, berries, and insects. It often consumes seeds from trees such as maple, ash, pine, and spruce, along with a variety of berries including juneberries and elderberries. This bird also eats insects like caterpillars and beetles, especially during the breeding season when protein is essential for chick development.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, evening grosbeaks commonly eat sunflower seeds, which are popular for their high fat content. They may also consume shelled peanuts and other mixed birdseed blends. Sometimes, they are attracted to feeders offering suet cakes containing seeds and nuts.

What does an evening grosbeak sound like?

The evening grosbeak, a passerine bird, is known for its distinct vocalizations. The bird's common call consists of a piercing "cleer" or "peeer," often delivered in a series. Its song is a series of short warbling notes, interspersed with its characteristic calls. However, the evening grosbeak is not known for melodiousness, but more for the assertive, unmusical sharpness and consistency of its vocal communications.

Call

Audio by Doug Hynes

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

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Hawfinch

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Evening Grosbeak

Hawfinch

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

General appearance

The hawfinch is a robust and medium-sized bird, about the size of a starling. It has a thick neck, large round head and a broad, strong conical bill. The bird's primary color is chestnut, teamed with gray, black, and white. A black throat patch, together with the blue-grey bill and cheeks make it easily recognizable.

Male vs female

Males and females are similar in appearance. However, males often have slightly brighter chestnut colors on their plumage and a broader black eyestripe. In females, these features are more muted. Regardless of their sex, hawfinches have a striking, contrasting coloration, which makes them easily identifiable.

Juvenile

Juvenile hawfinches bear a resemblance to the adults but have duller coloration and less distinct markings. They have more mottled brown coloring and less distinctive facial patterns. In addition, juveniles display a pinkish, rather than blue-grey bill.

Size

6.3 - 7.1 in/1.6 - 2.5 oz

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Evening Grosbeak

Hesperiphona vespertina

General appearance

The Evening Grosbeak is a stocky bird with a thick, stout bill. Its coloration is primarily that of yellow and black, with the body appearing mostly yellow and wings and tail being marked with black. The bill is a pale color, often appearing nearly white.

Male vs female

Males and females display significant sexual dimorphism. Males are more brightly colored, with a vibrant yellow body, a brownish-black head, and black wings featuring striking white patches. Females, on the other hand, are less vibrant with more of a grey-brown body and white markings on the wings. Both genders share the feature of a pale, stout bill.

Juvenile

Juvenile Evening Grosbeaks appear similar to adult females, with more subdued coloration than males. As they age, they gradually acquire their adult colors, males becoming vibrant yellow and females settling into their more muted brown and white tones.

Size

6.5 - 7.1 in/1.9 - 2.6 oz

There's more to learn about Evening Grosbeak

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How to tell the Hawfinch from the Evening Grosbeak

Visual differences

The Hawfinch and Evening Grosbeak have distinct visual differences. Hawfinches are chestnut with black, gray, and white markings, and feature a robust, conical bill with a blue-gray hue. They are about 6.3-7.1 inches long. Evening Grosbeaks are more vibrant, with males displaying bright yellow bodies and black wings with white patches, while females are gray-brown with white wing markings. Their pale, stout bills are nearly white. Evening Grosbeaks are slightly larger, at approximately 6.5-7.1 inches long, but both birds have similar stocky builds.

Key differences and behavior

The Hawfinch and Evening Grosbeak, while similar in size (6.3-7 inches), exhibit distinct behavioral and ecological traits. Hawfinches are shy, inhabiting deciduous and mixed woodlands in Europe and parts of Asia, while Evening Grosbeaks favor the coniferous forests of North America. Hawfinches are particularly secretive with quiet songs, whereas Evening Grosbeaks are more social, traveling in flocks and vocalizing actively. During breeding, Hawfinches are monogamous with mutual preening, and Evening Grosbeaks use food offerings in courtship. Both species consume seeds and insects, but Hawfinches crack hard seeds with their robust bills, while Evening Grosbeaks are adept at rapidly consuming sunflower seeds at feeders.