Plural of 'hawfinch'; a stocky European finch with a thick bill, known for eating hard seeds and nuts.
From 'haw' (hawthorn berries, the plant with thorny fruit) plus 'finch' (a small songbird). The bird is named for its preference for hawthorn fruits and its impressive seed-cracking beak.
Hawfinches have the most powerful bite force relative to body size of almost any songbird—they crack cherry pits and apricot stones that would need pliers for humans! Yet they're so shy that bird-watchers consider spotting one a special treat.
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