Sister species of the Woodpecker Finch (
Geospiza pallida) (Lamichhaney
et al., 2015). Previously included in the genus
Camarhynchus, but Lamichhaney
et al. (2015) demonstrated that this genus is embedded in
Geospiza. Adult males do not have a dark hood. It inhabits exclusively mangroves, which are naturally scarce in Galápagos, although non-breeding finches can occasionally be seen in the arid zone (Kleindorfer
et al., 2022). It is affected by the Avian Vampire Fly (
Philornis downsi) (Fessl
et al., 2017), which likely reduces its reproductive success. There is an important captive breeding and reintroduction program in Isabela called the Mangrove Finch Project (Fessl
et al., 2017; interpretation guide, pers. comm.). The estimated population is very low, fewer than 100 individuals (Kleindorfer
et al., 2022; BirdLife International, 2023). Monotypic.
Geographic Distribution: Small breeding population north of Caleta Tagus, Isabela (Fessl
et al., 2017). Vagrant individuals in Fernandina (Kleindorfer
et al., 2022).
Description extracted from: La Grotteria (2023).
REFERENCESLa Grotteria, J. 2023. Identificación, comentarios y registros personales de pinzones de Darwin. Referencia Orientativa.