Española Ground-Finch
Geospiza conirostris
A large and stout-billed Galápagos finch confined to the island of Española. Identification is straightforward, since the only other finches living on Española (Small Ground-Finch and Gray Warbler-Finch) have relatively tiny bills. Bill is pure black on breeding male and marked with pink or orange on female and nonbreeding male. Male’s plumage is mostly sooty-black; female is browner with pale streaks on the underparts. Common in arid areas near the coast. Often seen perched on rocks and bushes, or hopping around on the beach.
Identification
The Española cactus finch is among the largest of the Darwin's finches, measuring 15 cm (5.9 in) in length. The male is black, with white-tipped undertail coverts. Female and immature birds range in color from dull gray to matte black, and frequently show white edges to the feathers of their underparts.
Taxonomy
The Española cactus finch is one of Darwin's finches, a group of closely related birds that evolved on the Galápagos Islands. The group is related to the Tiaris grassquits, which are found in South America and the Caribbean. An ancestral relative of those grassquits arrived on the Galápagos Islands some 2–3 million years ago, and the Española cactus finch is one of the species that evolved from that ancestor.<p>From a study done in 2015, the Española cactus finch (G. conirostris) of Española was found to be a sister to the large ground finch, not to the Genovesa cactus finch. The International Ornithologists' Union has changed the taxonomy based on the study. Other taxonomic authorities have kept the large cactus finch and the Genovesa cactus finch conspecific.
- Scientific name
- Geospiza conirostris
- Authority
- Ridgway, 1890
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Geospiza
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Buru Boobook
Ninox hantu
An atypical-looking and distinctive smallish boobook, with its fairly unmarked bright cinnamon-brown plumage. Endemic to Buru, where it inhabits lowland and foothill forests. Song is a rather strange, frog- or insect-like series of hoarse, insistent-sounding croaking notes, often given in medium-length series. Formerly lumped with Seram Boobook under the name “Hantu Boobook.
White-naped Brushfinch
Atlapetes albinucha
Fairly large, skulking sparrow of highlands in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Ecuador. Favors dense brushy areas and flower banks in evergreen and pine-oak forests; often in pairs. Usually rather skulking, on or near the ground in shady brush and understory; sings from bushes and trees. Note black head with contrasting white stripe down the middle. In Mexico, throat and underparts are mostly yellow. In Central and South America, yellow throat contrasts with pale grayish breast; these birds were formerly known as Yellow-throated Brushfinch.
Celestial Monarch
Hypothymis coelestis
A fairly small, rather long-tailed bird of lowland forest. Has turquoise wings and tail, an indigo chest and neck, a pale blue crown and crest, and a white belly. The male is brighter blue and has a longer crest than the female. Similar to Black-naped Monarch, but has a crest. Also similar to Short-crested Monarch, but is paler blue with a longer crest. Song is a short series of clear piping notes, ”pii-pii-pii.”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.