The Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustes

This unmistakable member of the Fringillidae family is a bulky bull-headed bird with an orange-brown head, a grey stripe around the neck, black markings around the beak, black wings with white wing bars and a white underpart.
The eyestripe, bib, throat and wingtips are black.
The female and young hawfinch have less contrasting colours.
The young bird has a yellow mark on the throat.
The bird’s upright and hopping gait is a typical characteristic.
It feeds on the seeds of fleshy fruits as well as the hard kernels of cherries and peaches which it cracks with its powerful massive bill.
It is often seen in small groups.
It lives in woods, parks and orchards.
It builds its nest at the top of trees.
One of its typical features is its large beak which is metallic blue during its reproductive period and then yellow during the winter and when at rest.
It is the biggest in the Fringillidae family, as a matter of fact, even though it has a short tail, it can reach a length of 17 cm and weigh 60 grams.