Bird of the day
Cocos finch
Pinaroloxias inornata
The Cocos finch (Pinaroloxias inornata) or Cocos Island finch, is the only one of Darwin's finches not native to the Galápagos Islands, and the only member of the genus Pinaroloxias. Sometimes classified in the family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the tanager family, Thraupidae. It is endemic to Cocos Island, a Pacific island which is approximately 360 miles (580 km) south of Costa Rica.
The Cocos finch stands at about 12 cm long weighing in at about 12.5 g. The bird has a black decurved pointed bill for eating berries and insects that are its main diet. They are sexually dimorphic in that the males are almost entirely black, having black feathers from the tail, breast, nape, and crown. Unlike male finches found on the Galapágos islands, male Cocos finches have black beaks year-round, never changing color.
Female Cocos finches have a lighter brown complexion compared to males. There is a black splattering of feathers on their breast area down to the flank and rump. The belly of the female Cocos finch is milky white compared to the mantle of the bird. The nape and crown area are more noticeably black. The young are similar, but have yellow bills.
The call of a Cocos finch can be described as a "buzzy" like sound with a high-pitched ending note. The beginning of the call can form a "djirr" sound followed by a high pitched "tiew" sound. Calls can also include a high pitched "phzzzz" sound.
Aliases
Pinaroloxias inornata, Cocos finch
Range
