Hawfinch

/ˈhɔːfɪntʃ/ noun

Definition

A colorful finch bird (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) with a large, powerful beak, found in Europe and Asia, known for cracking hard seeds.

Etymology

Compound word from 'haw' (the fruit of the hawthorn) and 'finch' (a type of bird). The bird is named for its ability to crack the hard seeds of hawthorn fruits using its distinctive large beak.

Kelly Says

The hawfinch has one of the most powerful beaks relative to body size of any bird—it can crack cherry pits and other incredibly hard seeds that would defeat other finches, showing how specialized bird anatomy becomes when food sources are exploited fully.

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