Birds Of Japan 24-The Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)シメ

The Hawfinch is a strong-looking finch with a huge cone-shaped bill, large head, short tail, and compact body. In Japan it is called シメ / Shime. Its powerful bill can crack hard seeds and fruit stones, giving it a very distinctive “heavy-faced” look compared with smaller finches.In Japan, the Hawfinch is mostly known as a winter visitor, especially in woodlands, parks, gardens, forest edges, and areas with seed-bearing trees. Older Japanese checklist information also notes summer presence in Hokkaido and northern Honshu, wandering in central Honshu, and wintering farther south including Kyushu. So for your map, show it as widely wintering across Japan, but do not mark it like a common year-round bird everywhere.Globally, the Hawfinch breeds widely across Europe and temperate Asia, and many Asian populations move south in winter. It favors deciduous and mixed woodland, especially areas with mature trees and plenty of seeds or fruit.

Hawfinch シメ

The Hawfinch is a sturdy, powerful finch often seen in forests, parks, gardens, orchards, and wooded areas in Japan, especially during the colder months. It has a large thick bill, strong head, warm brown body, grayish neck, and bold wing markings, giving it a heavy and distinctive appearance.

This bird uses its strong bill to crack hard seeds, cherry stones, and other tough plant foods. Usually quiet and cautious, Hawfinches are often seen alone, in pairs, or in small groups, feeding in trees or on the ground under woodland edges.

Category

Finches, Seed-eating Birds, Passerines

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Habitat

Forests, Parks, Gardens, Orchards, Woodlands, Woodland Edges

Region

Japan, Europe, East Asia, Northern Asia

Behavior

Seed Cracking, Quiet Foraging, Ground Feeding, Strong Direct Flight

Population

Locally Common in Suitable Habitat

シメ Hawfinch

シメは、日本の森林、公園、庭園、果樹園、雑木林、林縁などで見られる がっしりとしたアトリ科の野鳥です。特に寒い季節に観察されることが多く、 太く大きなくちばし、力強い頭部、褐色の体、灰色がかった首、 そして翼のはっきりした模様が特徴です。

とても丈夫なくちばしを使って、硬い種子やサクラの実の核などを 割って食べます。ふだんは静かで警戒心が強く、単独、つがい、 または小さな群れで行動し、木の上や林縁の地面で採食する姿が 見られます。

Category

アトリ科、種子食の鳥、スズメ目

IUCN Status

低危険種

Habitat

森林、公園、庭園、果樹園、雑木林、林縁

Region

日本、ヨーロッパ、東アジア、北アジア

Behavior

種子を割る、静かな採食、地上採食、力強く直線的な飛行

Population

適した環境では局地的に普通に見られる