The sharp-beaked ground finch (Geospiza difficilis) is a species of bird in the Darwin's finch group of the tanager family Thraupidae. It is classified as a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and it is native to the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador.[1] It has a mass of around 20 grams (0.71 oz) and the males have black plumage, while females have streaked brown plumage.[2] This finch was described by Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1888.[3]
| Sharp-beaked ground finch | |
|---|---|
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| female on Genovesa Island | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Thraupidae |
| Genus: | Geospiza |
| Species: | G. difficilis
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| Binomial name | |
| Geospiza difficilis Sharpe, 1888
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This relatively small, slender-billed finch is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, where it is found on Fernandina, Santiago, Pinta, Genovesa, Darwin, and Wolf Islands.[2] On the first three islands, it breeds in the humid highlands and disperses afterwards, but on the remaining smaller and lower islands the sharp-beaked ground finch is found in the arid zone year-round. Due to habitat destruction its range has decreased. It was formerly also present in the highlands of several other islands, and it is possible it still occurs on Isabela.[2]
Both the vampire ground finch and the Genovesa ground finch were considered subspecies. The International Ornithologists' Union have split them, while other taxonomic authorities still consider them conspecific.
References
edit- ^ a b BirdLife International (2017) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Geospiza difficilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T103815127A119460685. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T103815127A119460685.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Sharp-beaked ground finch media from ARKive
- ^ "Geospiza difficilis". Avibase. Retrieved 3 August 2015.