Hawfinch

Hawfinch (Coccothraustes vulgaris), a bird of the Grosbeak (q.v.) genus and the Finch family (Fringillidae). It is considerably larger than the chaffinch; the adult male has the crown and back chestnut-brown, the neck and breast pale brown, the neck crossed at the back by a broad band of ash colour, wings partly black, greater wing-coverts grayish-white, lesser wing-coverts black or blackish-brown. The hawfinch is a very shy bird, perching on the topmost branches of trees, or on open boughs where it can command a good lookout, and avoiding man unless subdued by the effects of hunger or cold. It is gregarious. It feeds on the fruit of the hornbeam, plum, pine, cherry, laurel, holly, hawthorn, &c. It is not uncommon in some parts of England, but is rare in Scotland. It is widely distributed over Europe and the temperate parts of Asia, and is said to be found in Egypt.