Hawfinch
Big and brutal-looking, the bill of the Hawfinch is the first thing that strikes your eye, as they fly over. That said, the broad white longitudinal wing-bars are pretty distinctive. The bird is large, chunky, large headed and short-tailed. Listen for the piercingly high pitched ‘tic’ call as well as more drawn out almost Redwing-like calls.
Crossbill
Looking like Greenfinches on steroids, Crossbills are big, chunky finches. They have more even proportions than Hawfinches, and the variety of colours is usually lost against a bright sky, so concentrate on ‘jizz’. Luckily, they are often very vocal in flight, with a range of loud ‘chup, chup’ contact calls.
Bullfinch
The beautiful Bullfinch is as neckless as its name implies, which, combined with short, stubby bill, makes them look decidedly blunt…
