The colourful life of the Cherry-Breaker
THE lengthy scientific name of the UK’s largest finch is Coccothraustes coccothraustes. It derives from the Greek, kokko (a kernel) and thrauno (break into pieces).
A male, with his subtle mix of pastel shades of brown and other plumage, is very handsome. His large bill is bone-coloured in winter, similar to the female’s, but changes to gun-metal blue as the breeding season approaches. In spring, the legs change from pinkish grey to coral. At first glance, some of the flight feathers look frizzled, as if the bird has been handled. Closer inspection reveals that the four inner primaries and secondaries have curved ends with notches. These are used in the courtship display, and are not found in any other finch. The beak is highlighted by the black cere and a pencil-thin dark-feathered
