Sister species of the Large Ground Finch (
Geospiza magnirostris) (Lamichhaney
et al., 2015). Previously included as a subspecies of the Genovesa Cactus Finch (
Geospiza propinqua), but they were separated based on broad genetic differences, close relationships with other species, different bill shape, and vocalizations (Lamichhaney
et al., 2015). Based on this separation, its population became restricted exclusively to Española. In various literature, it appears as the “Española Cactus Finch,” but after separating it from the Genovesa species (which is related to the cactus finches), this other species (
Geospiza conirostris) was left on Española, which is closely related to the Large Ground Finch and warrants changing the common name of Geospiza conirostris to Española Ground Finch. It is easy to identify on Española because it is the only species with a large bill. The culmen is less curved than the Large Ground Finch (
Geospiza magnirostris). Monotypic.
A male specimen wandered to Daphne Major, hybridized with a female of the Medium Ground Finch, and generated a recent speciation phenomenon, a lineage known as “Big Bird” (Lamichhaney
et al., 2017), with an intermediate bill between both species, a unique vocalization, and the descendants only reproduce among themselves.
Geographic Distribution: Only present on Española (BirdLife International, 2023). One wandering male on Daphne Major (Lamichhaney
et al., 2017).
Description extracted from: La Grotteria (2023).
REFERENCESLa Grotteria, J. 2023. Identificación, comentarios y registros personales de pinzones de Darwin. Referencia Orientativa.