The Hawfinch is a member of the Finch family and is the largest finch found in England. It is a shy and secretive bird that likes to spend most of its time hiding in the tops of trees. It can be seen in woodlands, orchards, cemeteries, parks and occasionally in very large gardens. It is classed as a song bird although its song is very rarely heard.

The Hawfinch is a heavy-looking finch that has a large, powerful blue-grey beak which is cone-shaped. It has a large orange-brown coloured head and black feathers around its eyes. It also has black feathers under its beak which make it look like it is wearing a small black bib. It has a rich brown coloured back and a pinky brown breast. The wings are black with a white patch.

Hawfinches are quite sociable birds that can often be seen feeding in groups. They often take seeds from woodland trees such as the Wych Elm, the Beech and the Hornbeam, but they are also very fond of wild cherry seeds. They can easily crack open wild cherry stones with their strong beaks to get to their favourite seeds. In summer they eat insects which are sometimes caught in mid-air.