Woodpecker finch

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Woodpecker finch
Woodpecker finch

Woodpecker finch

Systematics
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Family : Tangaren (Thraupidae)
Subfamily : Coerebinae
without rank: Darwin's finches (Geospicini)
Genre : Tree finches ( Camarhynchus )
Type : Woodpecker finch
Scientific name
Camarhynchus pallidus
( PL Sclater & Salvin , 1870)

The woodpecker finch ( Camarhynchus pallidus ), also known as the tool tree finch , is a medium-sized member of the tangar family with a body length of 12 to 15 centimeters . The weight of the individual birds is approx. 30 grams.

description

Drawing of the Woodpecker Finch published in 1871 by the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

The birds have light brown back plumage, the wings are dark brown. The thin beak and legs are black. The plumage on the belly and on the throat is white. They have a thin white stripe over their eyes. The tail is brown.

distribution and habitat

The woodpecker finch is only found on the islands of the Galapagos Archipelago . There it inhabits the forests and grasslands, but also occurs in sparsely overgrown dry areas.

Way of life

These birds feed on invertebrates such as insects and their maggots, which they pull out with the help of cactus spines or thin twigs from under the bark or from cracks if they cannot reach them with their pointed beak. Occasionally they also eat fruit. The singing consists of two different sounds, a high-pitched trill or rapid 7 to 8 equally loud notes.

Reproduction

The male helps the female build a nest. The breeding business is done by the female alone. In the nest, an open bowl, the female lays 1–5 pale eggs with brown spots. It is supported by the male in caring for the young. The incubation period is 12 days, after which the young remain in the nest for up to 2 weeks.

Hazards and protective measures

Due to the reduction in its population by around a third, the IUCN classifies this species as ( Vulnerable ) endangered. It is already extinct on the islands of San Cristóbal and Floreana . A monitoring program exists to protect the species. Furthermore, introduced invasive species are combated.

swell

  • The great encyclopedia of birds. (German translation from English) Orbis Verlag, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-572-00810-7 , pp. 319, 321
  • Wilhelm owner (ed.), Erna Mohr: Encyclopedia of the animals. Volume 2, Weltbild, Augsburg 1991, ISBN 978-3-89350-361-2 , p. 377
  • Ann Baggaley (ed.): Lexicon of the animals. Translated from the English by Michael Kokoscha. Dorling Kindersley, Munich 2009, ISBN 978-3-8310-1434-7 , p. 153
  • David Burnie: Fascination with the Wildlife. (German translation from English) Neuer Honos Verlag, Cologne 2000, ISBN 978-3829904780 , p. 219
  • The colorful lexicon of animals. Schmid, Bernau 2013, ISBN 978-3-8380-2035-8 , p. 188
  • Fascination Animal & Nature (collective folder): Card 265 Galapagos Finches, IMP / Meister Verlag, Munich, Parcel 85 056020 085 a
  • Christopher M. Perrins (Ed.): The FSVO encyclopedia birds of the world. Translated from the English by Einhard Bezzel. BLV, Munich / Vienna / Zurich 2004, ISBN 978-3-405-16682-3 , pp. 628-631 (title of the English original edition: The New Encyclopedia Of Birds. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2003).

Web links

Commons : Woodpecker Finch ( Camarhynchus pallidus )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files