FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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The large tree finch (Camarhynchus psittacula) is Darwin group bird species of tanagers, belonging to the Thraupidae family, and and endemic species of the Galapagos Islands. They prefer tropical or subtropical dry and moist montane forest areas. The Camarhynchus genus, Darwin's finch species, are all endemic birds of the Galapagos Islands. These finches were recently placed in the tanager family as studies on their molecular genetics proved this. They were previously listed in Emberizidae, the American sparrow, and the bunting family. This family is the second largest bird family. There are over 300 species in this family, with 15 subfamilies and 106 genera. John Gould, an English ornithologist, first introduced this genus in 1837 with type species as large tree finch. The term, Camarhynchu, has two Greek elements, 'kamara', meaning 'vault' or 'arch' and 'rhunkhos', meaning 'bill'. There are five species in this genus. The large tree finch has a grayish-olive upper part and white with yellow-buff underparts with a dark head and parrot bill.
If you enjoyed these facts, continue reading about the cockatoo and eastern kingbird on Kidadl.
The large tree finch (Camarhynchus psittacula) is Darwin finch species of the order Passeriformes and the phylum Chordata. Their previous scientific name was Geospiza psittacula. This bird species is the largest in the Camaehynchus genus. This bird probes and bites into the bark to extract larvae and insects in twigs
The large tree finch (Camarhynchus psittacula) belongs to the class Aves of animals.
The exact population number of large tree finch (Camarhynchus psittacula) birds in the world is not known. The population of these finches has declined in Santa Cruz Island and is likely declining on other islands in their natural habitat range.
Large tree finch species are endemic birds of Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. They are found in their breeding range including Santa Cruz, Isabel, Santiago, Santa Fe, Floreana, Fernandina, Rabida, Marchena, and Pinta. They are currently extinct in Pinzon and are believed to be extinct in Floreana. The distribution of this bird is in the Pacific Ocean around the equator about 603.9 mi (971.8 km) west of continental Ecuador.
The C. p. habeli subspecies occupies Marchena and Pinta Islands, north Galapagos. The C. p. affinis subspecies occupies the Isabel and Fernandina Islands in the west Galapagos. The C. p. psittacula subspecies occupy Santa Cruz, Floreana, Santiago, and Santa Fe in Central and south Galapagos.
The range of large tree finch habitats extends to lowland deciduous and montane evergreen forest regions. The altitude range is 984.2-2296.5 ft (300-700 m). They are restricted to regions with tall palo santo, Bursera graveolens, in dry zones of Santa Cruz. They can also be found in local agriculture areas and in the Scalesia zone. During the dry season, they may be found around lower elevations.
Large tree finches live in a group or form a pair bond.
The information on the lifespan of large tree finch species, endemic to the Galapagos Islands is not available. However, their relatives, medium tree finches live up to 15-20 years. However, the most common lifespan is around 5-10 years.
These birds are monogamous and form a long-term pair bond. These birds appear black with a black bill in the breeding season. The breeding depends on rain when there are abundant food resources. The nest is built by the male which is a spherical structure with an opening on the top. The male builds the nest with lichen, grasses, and moss. The female lays around four white eggs with dark spots. The female alone incubates the eggs for 12 days while the male guards the female. Both the male and female feed the young. The young chick fledges around 13-15 days after they hatch.
The conservation status of the largest birds of Camarhynchus is evaluated as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. These birds of the Galapagos Islands are common within their small habitat range. However, a number of factors like introduced parasitic fly and herbivore species, development, climate change, and invasive alien species have created unfavorable surroundings to these birds. Also, they may be susceptible to avian pox.
The mature male Camarhynchus psittacula (Gould, 1837) of the nominate species have gray-olive upperparts with black feather centers and short tails. They have white with yellow-buff underparts. There are dark streaks on their flanks and lower breasts while the undertail coverts are not streaked. The underparts are variable with each subspecies. Their head is dark with a black hood and the black color extends to the throat and breast. The parrot-like bill is long with arched culmen. In the breeding season, the bill is black and dull orange with dark culmen otherwise. They have black feet and legs and dark brown eyes. The upper parts of the female are grayish-brown and brown upper wings with two pale wing-bars. They have a gray-brown head with pale supercilium and a dull orange bill with dark culmen. The large tree finch eyesight is well-developed. The young chicks are similar to females with black faces, lower throats, and foreheads.
The male C. p. habeli subspecies are also darker with a longer less arched bill. The male and female C. p. affinis are small in size than nominate male birds and they have smaller bills too.
* Please note that this is an image of a finch bird. If you have an image of a large tree finch please let us know at [email protected].
Camarhynchus psittacula (Gould, 1837) birds are considered cute even though they are on the grayer side because of their distinct parrot-like bills. Their song is 'chu-tzee chu-tzee chu-tzee' and both sexes sing. The song has varying buzzes and trills like all other Darwin finches.
Camarhynchus psittacula (Gould, 1837) communicate using calls and body language. The large tree finch call is a nasal 'tzeeu'.
Large tree finches are 5.1 in (12.7 cm) in size. These finches are almost as big as saffron finches.
The information on the flight speed of large tree finches is not available.
This tree finch bird weighs around 0.03-0.046 lb (13.6-20.8 g).
There is no specific name given to the male and female large tree finch.
There is no specific name given to the baby large tree finch.
The large tree finch diet is omnivorous. This large insectivorous tree finch feeds on insects, seeds, and fruits.
No, they are not dangerous to humans.
No, they would not make good pets.
All Darwin finches have a close relationship with each other and have common derived ancestors of almost 2-3 million years.
The medium tree finch's bill size is between the length of a small tree finch and large tree finch.
Mangrove finches are a relative of this bird and feed on larvae, spiders, vegetable matter, and insects.
Woodpecker finches and small tree finches are most likely to compete with large tree finches for food.
Some predators of tree finches are hawks, snakes, paper wasps, black rats, and cats.
Both finches are of the order Passeriformes. Tree finches are of the Camarhynchus genus and ground finches are of the Geospiza genus. As the name suggests, tree finches forage on barks, and ground finches forage on the ground. This allows them to coexists on the same islands without competition.
The large tree finch beak morphology is parrot-like. The beak is larger and strongly arched and is black or dull orange with dark culmen.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these American pipit facts and whiskered treeswif facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable large tree finch coloring pages.
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At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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