Hawfinch
This Hawfinch painting illustrates a large heavily built finch, with a massive head and bill. The largest of our finches, it is a remarkably self effacing bird that keen birdwatchers may go years without seeing. The huge steel-coloured bill can exert sufficient pressure to crack a cherry stone. The crown is a rich brown, bordered below by a grey half-collar. The back is dark chestnut with black wings marked by a white wing bar and curiously shaped triangular tipped inner flight feathers. The tail is chestnut tipped with white and the underparts warm buff brown. The female is less brightly marked.
The hawfinch inhabits deciduous woods with fruiting trees such as wild cherry, hornbeam, wych elm and beech. Orchards of fruit tree and parks are also favoured. The nest, consisting of a cup of twigs and roots lined with hair, is built in fruit trees, oak and sycamore.
It feeds on buds in spring and insects in summer, but most food consists of the hard seeds of fruit that other finches cannot tackle. Its powerful bill gives the hawfinch a monopoly of certain items.
This is an original watercolour hawfinch painting on Fabriano artistico paper. It is window mounted on ivory, size 28 x 36 cms when mounted.
Digital prints are available upon request. Please contact me by email from the contact form.
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