Large Tree-Finch Camarhynchus psittacula Scientific name definitions

The Large Tree-Finch is the largest and heaviest bodied of the three tree-finch species, imaginatively named the Large, Medium and Small tree-finches. Large Tree-Finches have a big and deep bill with a strongly arched culmen, being approximately as long as it is deep. The fine tips of the mandibles actually cross a feature that is difficult to see on live birds. Males show a dark hood, greenish back and whitish underparts. This species is found in a number of the islands in the Galapagos archipelago, and in many it is sympatric with the Small Tree-Finch (C. parvulus). It is never as common as the Small Tree-Finch and it is found in areas with taller and larger trees.

13 cm; 15–21 g. The largest tree-finch, tail proportionately short and weak, deep bill approximately as long as it is deep, strongly arched culmen, mandible tips cross slightly when bill closed. Male nominate race has blackish hood extending to throat and breast; upperparts greyish-olive with darker feather centres; whitish below tinged yellowish-buff, dark streaks on lower breast and flanks, undertail-coverts unstreaked buffy white; iris dark; bill black when breeding, otherwise dull orange with dark culmen; legs black. Female is dull greyish-brown, streaking of underparts less bold than in male, often indistinct; head greyish-brown, slightly paler supercilium, upperparts greyish-brown with indistinct darker feather centres (sometimes absent), tail brown; upperwing brownish, two narrow grey-buff wingbars; off-white below, indistinct grey streaking on breast on some individuals, belly to undertail-coverts plain pale buff; bill dull orange with darker culmen; legs blackish. Immature male is like female, but with blackish forehead, face and lower throat. Races differ mainly in size and bill structure: habeli is smaller than nominate, has longer bill with less curved culmen, male tends to be darker than nominate; affinis is like nominate, but smaller in both body size and bill size.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Highland forests; may move to lower elevations during dry season.

Resident; some downslope movement in dry season suspected.

Food mainly arthropods, also native fruits. Forages under leaves and excavates dead branches in search of insects.

Breeds mainly in wet season. Pair-bond may be kept over successive seasons. Nest built by male, a sphere with entrance towards top at side, made from dry grasses and other vegetation (often moss and lichen used in construction). Clutch usually 4 eggs (sometimes 3), whitish with pinkish or brown spots. Incubation by female, c. 12 days; fledging 10–12 days.

VULNERABLE. Uncommon; widely distributed in the archipelago. Apparently extinct on Pinzón (Duncan) and Baltra (Seymour). Likely extinct on Floreana through hybridisation; recent records thought to refer to G. pauper (2 Kleindorfer, S., O’Connor, J.A., Dudaniec, R.Y., Myers, S.A., Robertson, J. and Sulloway, F.J. (2014). Species collapse via hybridization in Darwin’s Tree Finches. The American Naturalist 183(3): 325-341. Close ). Population on Santa Cruz 8900 singing males in 2008, with some declines noted between 1997 and 2010, particularly in dry zone (3 Dvorak, M., Fessl, B., Nemeth, E., Kleindorfer, S. and Tebbich, S. (2012). Distribution and abundance of Darwin’s finches and other land birds on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos: evidence for declining populations. Oryx. 46(1): 78-86. Close ). No census data for Isabela and Santiago, but similar declines likely BirdLife International Globally Threatened Bird Forums . Not considered of conservation concern until 2015, when it was listed as Vulnerable.

Alvaro began birding as an 11 year old in Canada, and eventually trained in Evolutionary Ecology studying, creatures as varied as leaf-cutter ants and Argentine cowbirds. But his career has been focused on birding tourism, both as a guide and owner of his tour company, as well as a avitourism consultant to various organizations. He is the author of Birds of Chile, New World Blackbirds: The Icterids, as well as the ABA Field Guide to the birds of California. He lives in Half Moon Bay, California where he is known for his pelagic birding trips. Email: alvaro@alvarosadventures.com.