North American field guide

Hawfinch

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Identification

Field notes

18 cm (7") Strays in spring to western Aleutians and islands off Alaska, from Eurasia.

Stocky bird like Evening Grosbeak. Told from this bird by its black throat and blue-black bill. Extensive white on wing. Undulating flight.

Song: loud explosive "ptik" call.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Hawfinch

1 rule
Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 1
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
Yes · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
Uniform · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States
result:1059-hawfinch:1:1 Source: 1059 Hawfinch, row 1