Galapagos finch

Galapagos finch

▪ bird group
also called  Darwin's finch 
  distinctive group of birds whose radiation into several ecological niches in the competition-free isolation of the Galapagos Islands and on Cocos Island gave the English naturalist Charles Darwin evidence for his thesis that “species are not immutable.” The three genera (Geospiza, Camarhynchus [see photograph—>], and Certhidea), including 14 species, usually are placed in the songbird family Fringillidae (order Passeriformes) and in a distinct subfamily, Geospizinae, but some authors place them in the family Emberizidae. All are 10–20 cm (4–8 inches) long and of brownish or black coloration; they differ greatly, however, in the configuration of their bills, which are suited to their diverse feeding habits. Two species—the woodpecker finch (Camarhynchus pallidus) and the mangrove finch (C. heliobates)—use cactus spines to probe for grubs.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Galápagos tortoise — Conservation status …   Wikipedia

  • finch — /finch/, n. 1. any of numerous small passerine birds of the family Fringillidae, including the buntings, sparrows, crossbills, purple finches, and grosbeaks, most of which have a short, conical bill adapted for eating seeds. 2. any of various… …   Universalium

  • Galápagos Islands — /geuh lah peuh gohs /; Sp. /gah lah pah gaws / an archipelago on the equator in the Pacific, ab. 600 mi. (965 km) W of and belonging to Ecuador: many unique species of animal life. 4058; 3029 sq. mi. (7845 sq. km). Also called Colón Archipelago.… …   Universalium

  • Galápagos Mockingbird — Conservation status …   Wikipedia

  • Galápagos Islands — Infobox World Heritage Site WHS = Galápagos Islands State Party = ECU Type = Natural Criteria = vii, viii, ix, x ID = 1 Region = Latin America and the Caribbean Year = 1978 Session = 2nd Extension = 2001 Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1The… …   Wikipedia

  • Finch — Taxobox name = True finches | image width = 250px image caption = Fringilla coelebs (chaffinch), male regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Passeriformes subordo = Passeri familia = Fringillidae familia authority = Vigors,… …   Wikipedia

  • Vampire Finch — Taxobox name = Vampire Finch regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Passeriformes familia = Emberizidae genus = Geospiza species = G. difficilis subspecies = G. d. septentrionalis trinomial = Geospiza difficilis septentrionalis …   Wikipedia

  • woodpecker finch —       species of Galápagos finch (Galapagos finch) (q.v.). * * * …   Universalium

  • Darwin's finch — or Galápagos finch Any of 14 species (in three genera) of songbirds (family Fringillidae) whose adaptations to several ecological niches in the Galápagos Islands and Cocos Island gave Charles Darwin evidence for his thesis that species are not… …   Universalium

  • Endemic birds of the Galápagos Islands — This article is one of a series providing information about endemism among birds in the World s various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in birds.Patterns of endemismA single tribe, the Geospizini is endemic to… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”