About the Cocos Finch
The Cocos finch 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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The Cocos finch is about 12 cm (4.7 in) long and weighs about 12.5 g (0.44 oz). 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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in September · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Black-and-white TanagerConothraupis speculigeraThe black-and-white tanager is a tanager found in the Tumbes region of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru; it migrates eastwards as far as Acre.
Merida FlowerpiercerDiglossa gloriosaThe Mérida flowerpiercer is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae.
Learn the Cocos Finch for real
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