Certhidea olivacea
Green warbler finch
Vulnerable
Until 2008, it was thought that this was the same species as the grey warbler finch.
Common name:
Darwin's finches
Scientific name:
Geospizinae subfamily
Spanish name:
Pinzones de Darwin
Conservation status:
Vulnerable
EX
EW
CR
EN
VU
NT
LC
Overview
Darwin’s finches, named after Charles Darwin, are small land birds, 17 of which are endemic to the Galapagos Islands. The 18th finch is the Cocos finch which is found on Cocos Island, Costa Rica. They are not true finches – they actually belong to the tanager family. It is thought that their ancestor, and closest known relative, is the dull-coloured grassquit, which is found on mainland South America.Â
Once the original grassquits arrived in Galapagos, they diversified and adapted to the different environments found on the Islands, eventually becoming different species. They famously evolved to have different beaks which are suited to different food types such as large seeds and invertebrates, allowing them to occupy different niches.Â
Darwin’s finches are all very similar in shape, size and colour, but there are a few differences which can help when identifying them. These include diet, habitat, and beak size and shape.
Certhidea fusca
Grey warbler finch
Least Concern
These finches are found mostly on smaller, drier islands.
Geospiza heliobates
Mangrove finch
Critically Endangered
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These rare finches are only found in a small area on Isabela.
Geospiza pallida
Woodpecker finch
Near Threatened
This finch is well-known for its use of tools. It can use a twig, stick or cactus spine to dislodge invertebrates from trees.
Geospiza psittacula
Large tree finch
Vulnerable
This species has a large, powerful bill with a thick base and is found on a number of islands.
Geospiza pauper
Medium tree finch
Critically Endangered
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This finch is only found in the highlands of Floreana.
Geospiza parvula
Small tree finch
Least Concern
These finches are small and have distinctive short, curved beaks which they use to mostly feed on insects.
Geospiza magnirostris
Large ground finch
Least Concern
The largest of Darwin’s finches both in size and beak size. They have large, short beaks for cracking large seeds and nuts.
Geospiza fortis
Medium ground finch
Least Concern
These finches are found on a number of the Islands and feed mainly on seeds.
Geospiza fuliginosa
Small ground finch
Least Concern
One of the most common species of finch, found throughout the Islands.
Geospiza conirostris
Española cactus finch
Vulnerable
This finch is one of the most variable of the finches in appearance and they feed on a range of foods including Opuntia cacti.
Geospiza propinqua
Genovesa cactus finch
Vulnerable
Some taxonomic authorities distinguish the Genovesa cactus finch from the Española cactus finch, while others still consider them conspecific.
Geospiza scandens
Common cactus finch
Least Concern
When Opuntia are in flower, the finches feed almost entirely on pollen and nectar. At other times of year they eat the seeds, fruit, other plants and invertebrates.
Geospiza difficilis
Sharp-beaked ground finch
Least Concern
Most populations of sharp-beaked ground finch feed mainly on seeds.
Geospiza septentrionalis
Vampire ground finch
Vulnerable
These sharp-beaked ground finches, found on the small and remote islands of Wolf and Darwin, often drink the blood of large seabirds, such as boobies.
Geospiza acutirostris
Genovesa ground finch
Vulnerable
Some taxonomic authorities consider the Genovesa ground finch to be a separate sub-species, while others still consider it conspecific with the sharp-beaked ground finch.
Platyspiza crassirostris
Vegetarian finch
Least Concern
One of the largest Darwin’s finches, it mainly eats leaves and shoots, along with fruits and tree sap. Locally extinct on Floreana island, not recorded there since 2008.
Darwin's finches in Galapagos
Photo gallery
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Restoring Floreana
"12 species are locally extinct on the island, including the Floreana mockingbird and Floreana racer snake."
Once home to some of the most iconic wildlife in Galapagos, Floreana has been devastated by invasive species. We are supporting a hugely ambitious project to restore the island to its former glory.
Saving endangered landbirds
"These finches are not part of a wider, fragmented colony, but represent the entire world population."
We are in a race against time to save the little vermilion flycatcher, on the brink of extinction on Santa Cruz, and the Critically Endangered mangrove finch, one of the rarest birds on Earth.
Read more about Darwin's finches...
Island restoration
Rewilding
12 missing species set to return to Floreana
The restoration of Floreana is a hugely ambitious project, which seeks to repopulate the island with its missing plants, birds, snakes and tortoises.
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Evolution and genetics
Evolution in real time: An interview with Peter and Rosemary Grant
Peter and Rosemary Grant’s long-running study of Darwin’s finches has revealed evolution to be a more dynamic and unpredictable process than Charles Darwin could ever have imagined.
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Events
Rewilding
Rewilding Floreana Webinar 2024
Our April webinar focused on the restoration of Floreana, with Jeff Dawson of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust reporting back from his recent trip to the island.
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Island restoration
Rewilding
Promising signs on Floreana as five species of finch are released
Five species of Darwin’s finch, which were held safely in captivity during the eradication of invasive species from Floreana, have now been released.
Read more
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