Previously considered a subspecies of the Española Ground Finch (Geospiza conirostris), but genetic studies have shown that it is a full species and is a sister species to the Small Cactus Finch (Geospiza scandens) (Lamichhaney et al., 2015). It has a beak distinct from the other finches, as an intermediate between the Española Ground Finch and the Small Cactus Finch, that is, a long and robust beak, somewhat longer than high. Just like the Small Cactus Finch, it also feeds on Cactus (Opuntia sp.), but there is no possibility of confusion since this latter does not inhabit Genovesa. Monotypic, although some authors consider “darwini” from Darwin and Wolf as a subspecies of the Genovesa Cactus Finch (Geospiza propinqua) (Jaramillo et al., 2020a) and not of the Large Ground Finch (Geospiza magnirostris).

Geographic Distribution: Only present in Genovesa (BirdLife International, 2023).

Description extracted from: La Grotteria (2023).

REFERENCES

La Grotteria, J. 2023. Identificación, comentarios y registros personales de pinzones de Darwin. Referencia Orientativa.

 See related literature