With bumper numbers of this awe-inspiring bird flocking to our shores over the winter period, your chances of seeing one increase
You can imagine the scene. A Hawfinch perches upright in a tall forest tree, looking out over the canopy, well out of sight of any human being. As with every bird, everywhere, it is hungry, and here among the twigs and branches of its favourite woodland giant, it knows there is plenty of food.
After a brief glance down, it manoeuvres its massive bill, opens the mandibles and plucks what it needs – a juicy caterpillar. Hang on, is that a mistake? A Hawfinch is eating a caterpillar? Is this the same Hawfinch that is famous for little more than having an outsize bill, capable of exerting enough force to crack a cherry kernel, or even an olive stone? Yes, this is the same species, alright. But this is the surprising Hawfinch, the real bird, which has a quiet lifestyle that very few people know about.
In the summer, oddly, it almost entirely forsakes its winter diet of nuts and fruits and feeds instead on soft-bodied invertebrates. The famous bill, its prized asset, is rendered less useful than usual and might even be a hindrance at such a time. But in the summer forest canopy, insects roll off the trees and times are easy, so the specialist becomes a temporary member of the ranks of ordinary insectivores, competing with Blue Tits and flycatchers.
Young Hawfinches, in their first few weeks of life, must wonder what their bill is actually for. Of course, the Hawfinch’s mandibles do come into their own in the depths of autumn and winter, when seeds are everywhere. With so many species competing for the nutrition they bring, it pays to have an advantage, and the Hawfinch bill is simply more powerful than that of any other finch, allowing it access to larger and harder seeds and stones. And while the sheer size of the bill is what every birdwatcher can see, easily, it is the internal structure that is the marvel.
Bu hikaye Bird Watching dergisinin January 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Bird Watching dergisinin January 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Weedon's World
Recent trips to a couple of his favourite local birding sites have resulted in encounters Mike would rather do without
Bee-Eater Breeding
There was much speculation online about why a Bee-eater breeding effort in Nottingham had failed. Here, we attempt to get to the truth by speaking to those in the know…
Grumpy Old Birder
Bo reveals the pleasure he gets watching birds and wildlife enjoy an ‘all-you-can-eat buffet’ in his garden…
#My 200 Bird Year 2018
If you’ve enjoyed trying to complete our #My200BirdYear challenge in 2017, or if you’ve been watching with interest but biding your time, or if you’re a complete newcomer to Bird Watching magazine, then now’s the time to sign up for #My200BirdYear 2018 at birdwatching.co.uk/my200
HOLME
Varied habitats and one of the UK’s top observatories
Backbury Hill
A walk to a multi-vallate hillfort with birds on the way
Castlemartin Corse
A relic of a once-great wetland
Lend A Helping Hand
Wildlife centres can often be the only venues for many to see birds close up. Here, one volunteer explains the important work they carry out.
Bringing Back The Tree Sparrow
The story of how one man helped establish a Tree Sparrow colony around his Suffolk home.
The Urban Birder Visits Ushuaia, Argentina
A wide variety of interesting birds can be seen in the world’s most southernmost city.