Camarhynchus pauper
| Medium tree finch | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Thraupidae |
| Genus: | Camarhynchus |
| Species: | C. pauper |
| Binomial name | |
|
Camarhynchus pauper Ridgway, 1890 |
|
The medium tree finch (Camarhynchus pauper) is a critically endangered species of bird in the Darwin's finch group of the tanager family Thraupidae. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands where it is only found on Floreana Island. Its name is derived from the fact that the bird's beak is intermediate in size between that of the small tree finch and the large tree finch. Because it has a very small range on a single island, and because of the introduction of a parasitic fly whick kills the nestlings, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the medium tree finch as "critically endangered".
This species is only found on Floreana Island at elevations above 250 m in moist highland forest habitat. Prime breeding habitat is dominated by Scalesia pedunculata trees.
The diurnal Galapagos short-eared owl is its only remaining natural predator. Medium tree finches generally lay 2–3 eggs. Eggs are incubated for approximately 12 days, and nestlings are fed by both parents at the nest for approximately 14 days before fledging.
The range of beak sizes of the medium tree finch on Floreana and the large tree finch, Camarhynchus psittacula, on Isabela is roughly the same. This reflects the fact that the two species feed on the same type and size of insect. The beak of the medium tree finch is intermediate in size between the small tree finch and large tree finch. All three species are found in the same habitat.
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Wikipedia