Hawfinchs in England
When the Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) is present in England, when it nests, and which native England plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in England
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- April–June
- Size
- 18 cm, 55 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect hawfinchs in England
The Hawfinch lives in England all year round. Frosts are frequent but prolonged snow is rare in the south; garden feeders carry tits and finches through January and February, and Continental thrushes arrive in hard weather.
Temperate maritime: mild, damp and changeable, drier and sunnier in the south-east than the north-west.
Nesting in England
In England the Hawfinch usually nests April–June. Nest site: cup high in trees. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days; chicks fledge after 12–14 days, and pairs raise 1 per year.
- The Hawfinch does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native England plants for hawfinchs
Of the native plants we track for England, these 8 provide food the Hawfinch uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Orange-red berries are a magnet for Blackbirds, thrushes and Waxwings from August.
Evergreen roosting cover and winter berries on female plants.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Hips persist into winter for thrushes and finches.
Translucent red berries in autumn.
Feeding in the garden
Cherry and hornbeam seeds cracked with enormous force.
- Best foods: Sunflower seed.
- Feeders: Open table.
- Shy and declining in the UK; best seen at established woodland sites.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are hawfinchs in England all year?
Yes — the Hawfinch is resident in England all year.
When do hawfinchs nest in England?
Typically April–June. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help hawfinchs in England?
Hawthorn, Rowan, Holly, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Dog rose, Guelder rose are native to England and provide food or cover the Hawfinch uses.
Hawfinchs in other countries
Other garden birds in England
Sources
- Hawfinch — RSPB bird guide
- Hawfinch — BTO BirdFacts
- Bird Atlas 2007–11 — British Trust for Ornithology
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.