Woodpecker Finch
Camarhynchus pallidus
A drab Galápagos finch with a stretched-out-looking bill. It has tan upperparts and pale whitish or yellowish underparts that may have a small amount of streaking. A small number of birds on San Cristóbal have dark hoods. Stout and elongated bill is pure black on breeding male, partly black on non-breeding male, and pale orange on female. Best identified by bill shape and behavior. It creeps along branches peering around for and probing into cavities, and it sometimes taps like a woodpecker. One of very few tool-using animals, it uses twigs and thorns to extract prey from holes in branches. Found on most islands but absent from Española, Genovesa, Marchena, Pinta, Darwin, and Wolf.
Identification
Woodpecker finches range in weight from 23g to 29g and are about 15 cm long. Although their tongues are quite short, they have a relatively long bill compared to other species of Darwin's finches.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Camarhynchus pallidus
- Authority
- (Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1870)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Camarhynchus
Range and habitat
Woodpecker finches are native to the Galapagos Islands. They are commonly found on the islands of Isabela, Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Fernandina, Santiago, and Penzón. They occupy all areas of the islands, from the most arid zones to more humid zones. However, the density of woodpecker finches is greater in the more humid zones than in the drier ones. Woodpecker finches are also found at a variety of altitudes, from sea level to higher inland elevations. They are a not a migratory species and when they do fly, they only fly short distances.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-necked Stint
Calidris ruficollis
A very small shorebird of both inland and coastal wetlands and estuaries. Breeding adult has vivid orange head bordered by dark stippling (no dark markings internal to the orange, unlike Little Stint) and bright orange and gold tones in upperwing coverts. Nonbreeding adult gray above, pale below; juvenile similar but richer gray-brown above with neat pale feather edges in upperparts. Flight call a high-pitched, raspy “krreeet.”
Cape Robin-Chat
Dessonornis caffer
Pretty robin-chat with a short white eyebrow and a rufous chest. This is the only robin-chat with a gray belly. The outer tail feathers are orange, which can be conspicuous in flight. Found in many different habitats, including fynbos, scrub, heath, gardens, forest edge, and thicket. More fond of open habitats than other robin-chats. Away from South Africa, only found in the mountains. Song is a typical thrush-like series of inquisitive, cheerful notes.
White-throated Screech-Owl
Megascops albogularis
Large screech-owl found in temperate forests, typically from around 2,300–3,400 m. Quite dark brown overall with small pale spots and bars covering head, back, and wings. Belly is paler tawny with dark streaks. White throat patch is usually obvious. Sexes similar. Strictly nocturnal and thus more often heard than seen; listen for a fairly short and slow series of toots that descends in pitch, often given as a duet.
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