HAWFINCH

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

English: Hawfinch.
German: Kernbeißer.
French: Gros-bec casse-noyaux.

Clasificación/Clasification

Order: Passeriformes.
Family: Fringillidae.

Longitud/Length

18 cm.

Envergadura/Wingspan

29-33 cm.

Aves relacionadas/Similar species

There is no possible confusion with any other species on the Iberian Peninsula.

Sexo/Sexing

Both the male and female have a similar appearance, but the male stands out for having a deeper chestnut color on the head. The outer barbs of the outer secondaries are shiny black. On the other hand, the length of the white spot on the inner barb of the outermost rectrix measures between 17-28mm. In the case of the female, she has a duller chestnut color on the head, and the outer barbs of the outer secondaries appear dark gray. The length of the white spot on the inner barb of the outermost rectrices ranges from 9-21mm.

Edad/Ageing

It is possible to recognize 3 different ages:

Juvenile specimen: They have a fresh plumage. The head, neck, and chest have yellowish tones, but the underparts are speckled darkly. These individuals lack a black bib on the chin..

1st/2nd-year specimen: The rectrices show significant wear and have a pointed shape if not all have been molted. If the central pair of rectrices has molted, there is a stark contrast with the rest. In the wing, a molt limit can be observed between the fully molted large secondary coverts and the retained ones (juvenile generation). If all have molted or none have changed, the limit is found in the alula and/or tertial feathers, although it is not always easy to observe. In males, the outer barb of R6 appears in brownish-gray tones, with a whitish spot at the tip, although some male specimens of this age may not have it. The outer barb of P5 measures between 3.5-5.8mm in width. The tip of P7 may sometimes have less shine than in adults, and the tip of P8 never has shine. In females, the outer barb of P5 measures between 3-4mm in width. Finally, only some specimens may have shine at the tip of P7, and the tip of P8 never has shine.

Adult specimen: Both the wing feathers and rectrices are of the same generation. The rectrices must be new and square in shape. In males, the outer barb of R6 is black with a pure white spot at the tip, although occasionally there are specimens that lack it. The outer barb of P5 measures between 5-7.2mm in width. The tip of P7 always has a bright shine. The tip of P8 often has shine. In females, the outer barb of P5 is 4-7.2mm wide. The tip of P7 always has shine, and the tip of P8 has shine in some specimens.

Muda/Moult

Hawfinch undergo a complete postnuptial molt that usually finishes in October. On the other hand, the post-juvenile molt is a partial process that includes body feathers, lesser and madian coverts, and usually all the greater coverts. Some individuals extend their molt to tertial. The molt of the rectrices is highly variable; most individuals only molt the central pair, but they can molt the entire tail or no feathers at all. This process concludes in November.

Configuración del plumaje/Plumage configuration

Primaries: 10 per wing.
Secundaries: 9 per wing.
Rectrices: 12.

Observaciones/Remarks

Link: http://blascozumeta.com/

La obtención de este material ha sido posible gracias al permiso necesario de la Junta de Andalucía.

AUTORIZACIÓN DE LA DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE MEDIO NATURAL, BIODIVERSIDAD Y ESPACIOS PROTEGIDOS DE LA CONSEJERÍA DE AGRICULTURA, GANADERÍA, PESCA Y DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE DE LA JUNTA DE ANDALUCÍA, PARA LA CESIÓN DE MUESTRAS BIOLÓGICAS DE ESPECIES DE FAUNA (ARTÍCULO 9 DE LA LEY 8/2003, DE 28 DE OCTUBRE, DE LA FLORA Y LA FAUNA SILVESTRES).

Medidas/Measures

Biometría/Biometrics

Adult specimen:
Beak tip to pupil center:
Tarsus:

Adult male specimen

1.- Right wing primaries. 2.- Details of the inner vane of P9, P8, P7, and P6. 3.- Details of the inner vane of P5, P4, P3, P2, and P1. 4.- Details of the tip of P9, P8, P7, and P6. 5.- Details of the tip of P5, P4, P3, and P2. 6.- Details of the tip of P4, P3, and P2. 7.- Right wing primaries. 8.- Details of the shaft of the primaries. 9.- Details of P10 compared to the shaft of P9. 10.- Details of the outer vane of the primaries. 11.- Details of the primaries. 12.- Secondaries. 13.- Details of the inner vane of S1, S2, and S3. 14.- Details of the tip of S1, S2, and S3. 15.- Details of the tertials. 16.- Right wing secondaries and tertials. 17.- Details of the tip of the secondaries. 18.- Details of the calamus of the secondaries. 19.- Details of the tertials. 20.- Right wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 21.- Right wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 22.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary coverts + greater coverts. 23.- Details of the primary coverts. 24.- Details of the primary coverts. 25.- Details of the primary coverts. 26.- Details of the greater coverts. 27.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary coverts + greater coverts + median coverts. 28.- Details of the median coverts. 29.- Details of the median and greater coverts. 30.- Primaries, secondaries, tertials. Primary coverts + secondary coverts (greater, median, and lesser). 31.- Details of the secondary coverts. 32.- Details of the secondary coverts. 33.- Primary coverts. 34.- Greater coverts. 35.- Alulas. 36.- Median coverts. 37.- Rectrices (tail feathers). 38.- Details of the inner vanes of the central rectrices. 39.- Details of the tip of the rectrices. 40.- Rectrices. 41.- Details of the tip of the rectrices. 42.- Details of the calamus of the rectrices. 43.- Rectrices + uppertail coverts. 44.- Details of the uppertail coverts. 45.- Uppertail coverts. 46.- Rectrices + undertail coverts. 47.- Details of the undertail coverts. 48.- Undertail coverts. 49.- Above: greater primary infracoverts. Below: greater secondary infracoverts. 50.- Assembly of the right scapula. 51.- Feathers of the right scapula. 52.- Assembly of the right flank. 53.- Feathers of the right flank. 54.- Above: throat feathers. Below: chest feathers. 55.- Above: upper back. Below: lower back. 56.- Ear covert feathers. 57.- Feathers of the lower belly. 58.- Crown feathers.

HAWFINCH

Medidas/Measures

Adult male specimen

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