St. Lucia Black Finch
Melanospiza richardsoni
A small seed-eating species of forests with dense understory. Commonly found in pairs feeding on the ground. Males are entirely jet-black, whereas females have a largely buff-brown body and a gray head. Females of the similar-looking Lesser Antillean Bullfinch are grayish below with a browner head. The male Lesser Antillean Bullfinch is mostly black but has a small red throat patch that male St. Lucia Black Finches lack. Both sexes of bullfinch also have a smaller bill than that of the black finch. Vocalizations include a high “tseea-ts-ts-tsew” and a slightly squeaky “tsip.”
Identification
A small seed-eating species of forests with dense understory. Commonly found in pairs feeding on the ground. Males are entirely jet-black, whereas females have a largely buff-brown body and a gray head. Females of the similar-looking Lesser Antillean Bullfinch are grayish below with a browner head. The male Lesser Antillean Bullfinch is mostly black but has a small red throat patch that male St. Lucia Black Finches lack. Both sexes of bullfinch also have a smaller bill than that of the black finch. Vocalizations include a high “tseea-ts-ts-tsew” and a slightly squeaky “tsip.”
Taxonomy
Genus: Melanospiza; Family: Thraupidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Melanospiza richardsoni
- Authority
- (Cory, 1886)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Melanospiza
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Small, long-tailed antwren of the middle to upper levels of woodlands and dry forests. Males are gray with a contrasting black cap and eyebrow. The tail is black and white-tipped and the wings are black with white bars. In females note the cinnamon forehead, gray back and buff belly. The song is loud and usually given as a duet.
Plain Gerygone
Gerygone inornata
A tiny, warbler-shaped songbird confined to the eastern Lesser Sundas. Upperparts gray-brown; underparts clean, unmarked white. Note subtle white mark between bill and eye, and beady-eyed appearance. Juveniles washed yellow below. Inhabits forest, edge, mangroves, and scrub from coast to mountains. Sits high in the understory, singly or in pairs. Unmistakable, as the only tiny gray-and-white warbler-like bird in range. Warbling song comprises a series of high-pitched, descending whistled phrases such as “pee-pee-ooo-ooo-pee-ooo-ooo”. Calls often and for prolonged periods.
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