Medium Tree-finch
Encyclopedia
The Medium Tree Finch is a critically endangered
species of bird
in the Darwin's finch group of the tanager
family
Thraupidae. It is endemic to the Galapagos Islands
.
This species is only found on Floreana Island
at elevations above 250m in moist highland forest habitat. Prime breeding habitat is dominated by Scalesia
pedunculata trees.
It is threatened by introduced predators such as rats, mice, cats, and the Smooth-billed Ani
, as well as habitat loss, which has occurred through clearance for agriculture. The diurnal Galapagos Short-eared Owl
is its only remaining natural predator. The introduced parasite Philornis downsi
is a significant threat to the survival of this species. Parasitic larvae of this fly live in the nest material and feed on the blood and body tissues of nestlings. P. downsi causes high nestling mortality in the Medium Tree Finch
Medium Tree Finches generally lay 2-3 eggs. Eggs are incubated for approximately 12 days, and nestlings are fed by both parents at the nest for approximately 14 days before fledging.
The range of beak sizes of the Medium Tree Finch on Floreana and the Large Tree Finch, Camarhynchus psittacula, on Isabela
is roughly the same. This reflects the fact that the two species feed on the same type and size of insect. The beak of the Medium Tree Finch is intermediate in size between the Small Tree Finch and Large Tree Finch. All three species are found in the same habitat.
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
species of bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Darwin's finch group of the tanager
Tanager
The tanagers comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has an American distribution.There were traditionally about 240 species of tanagers, but the taxonomic treatment of this family's members is currently in a state of flux...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Thraupidae. It is endemic to the Galapagos Islands
Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of continental Ecuador, of which they are a part.The Galápagos Islands and its surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a...
.
This species is only found on Floreana Island
Floreana Island
Floreana Island is an island of the Galápagos Islands. It was named after Juan José Flores, the first president of Ecuador, during whose administration the government of Ecuador took possession of the archipelago, having previously been called Charles Island...
at elevations above 250m in moist highland forest habitat. Prime breeding habitat is dominated by Scalesia
Scalesia
Scalesia is a genus in the family Asteraceae endemic to the Galapagos Islands. It contains fifteen species displaying shrub or arborescent habit...
pedunculata trees.
It is threatened by introduced predators such as rats, mice, cats, and the Smooth-billed Ani
Smooth-billed Ani
The Smooth-billed Ani is a large near passerine bird in the cuckoo family. It is a resident breeding species from southern Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, parts of Central America, south to western Ecuador, Brazil, and northern Argentina.This ani is found in open and semi-open country and...
, as well as habitat loss, which has occurred through clearance for agriculture. The diurnal Galapagos Short-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
The Short-eared Owl is a species of typical owl . In Scotland this species of owl is often referred to as a cataface, grass owl or short-horned hootlet. Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may...
is its only remaining natural predator. The introduced parasite Philornis downsi
Philornis downsi
Philornis downsi is a species of fly that was first recorded in Trinidad and Brazil. It has been accidentally introduced to the Galapagos Islands . Adult P. downsi feed on fruit...
is a significant threat to the survival of this species. Parasitic larvae of this fly live in the nest material and feed on the blood and body tissues of nestlings. P. downsi causes high nestling mortality in the Medium Tree Finch
Medium Tree Finches generally lay 2-3 eggs. Eggs are incubated for approximately 12 days, and nestlings are fed by both parents at the nest for approximately 14 days before fledging.
The range of beak sizes of the Medium Tree Finch on Floreana and the Large Tree Finch, Camarhynchus psittacula, on Isabela
Isabela Island (Ecuador)
Isabela Island is the largest island of the Galápagos with an area of , and length of nearly 4 times larger than Santa Cruz, the next largest of the islands. This island was named in honor of Queen Isabella of Spain, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus. . By the English, it was named Albemarle...
is roughly the same. This reflects the fact that the two species feed on the same type and size of insect. The beak of the Medium Tree Finch is intermediate in size between the Small Tree Finch and Large Tree Finch. All three species are found in the same habitat.