Hawfinches in Britain

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Hawfinch
A Hawfinch

The Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) is a species of finch with a limited, fairly scarce breeding distribution in Great Britain. It is more abundant further south and east in Europe and Asia.

[edit] Status summary

In the 18th century, the Hawfinch was recorded as only a rare winter visitor in Britain. The first breeding record was early in the 19th century; by the early 1830s, a well-documented colony was established at Epping Forest in Essex, and breeding was also recorded in other counties east and south of London. Further expansion of the range continued through the 19th and 20th centuries, with breeding occurring as far north as Aberdeenshire by 1968–1972. Peak numbers were in the period 1983–1990. Subsequently, there has been a significant decline of between 37% and 45% between 1990–1999.[1][2][3][4]

[edit] Region by region

[edit] Southeast England

Southeast England is the stronghold of Hawfinch in Britain. One well-known site is Bedgebury Pinetum, where flocks gather to roost in winter. The species is also found in the New Forest; a central roost site exists here, at the Blackwater Arboretum.

[edit] Southwest England

In Devon, Hawfinch is largely confined to the upper Teign Valley.

[edit] Western England and Wales

Two areas in which Hawfinch reliably occurs are the Forest of Dean and the Wyre Forest.

[edit] Eastern England

Hawfinch is present in the Breckland of East Anglia.

[edit] Northern England

Hawfinches are regularly found in a small number of locations in northern England. Prime sites include Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire and Hulne Park in Northumberland.

[edit] Scotland

Scone Palace near Perth is the most well-known site in Scotland for Hawfinch. Formerly, they also occurred in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Hello

[edit] Status as a Migrant

 Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Holloway, S. (1996). The Historical Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1875–1900. T & A D Poyser ISBN 0-85661-094-1.
  2. ^ Sharrock, J. T. R. (1976). The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. British Trust for Ornithology / Irish Wildbird Conservancy ISBN 0-903793-01-6.
  3. ^ Gibbons, D. W., Reid, J. B., & Chapman, R. A., eds. (1993). The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988–1991. T & A D Poyser ISBN 0-85661-075-5.
  4. ^ Langston, R. H. W., Gregory, R. D., & Adams, R. (2002). The status of the Hawfinch in the UK 1975-1999. British Birds 95: 166-173.
 Please help improve this article or section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (January 2007)