Small Tree-Finch Camarhynchus parvulus Scientific name definitions

This is the smallest and the most common and widespread of the three tree-finches. It is a small Darwin’s Finch with a short and stubby rounded bill. Males are black hooded, olive-brown on the back and white on the belly; while females are browner and streaked, including on the breast. This is often one of the commonest of the Darwin’s Finches along with the Small Ground-Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa). The Small Tree-Finch however is found only in areas with forest, agricultural areas with threes, or in the arid or transition zone where taller shrubbery is found. They mostly forage up in the foliage, rather than on the ground. Food appears to be a mix of seeds, fruit and insects. Where found with the Large Tree-Finch (C. psittacula) the Small Tree-Finch is more common and has a wider habitat breadth, while the Large Tree-Finch tends to be found in areas with larger and older trees.

11 cm; 11–16 g. The smallest tree-finch, with tiny rounded bill shape similar to that of some Sporophila seedeaters; proportionately short and weak tail. Male nominate race has blackish hood extending to throat and breast; upperparts greyish-olive with darker feather centres; underparts whitish with buffy tinge, blurry streaks on lower breast and flanks, unstreaked undertail-coverts buffy white; iris dark; bill black when breeding, otherwise dull orange with dark culmen; legs black. Female is dull greyish-brown, essen­tially unstreaked above and at most indistinctly streaked below: head greyish-brown, slightly paler area above and below eye, upperparts similarly greyish-brown; tail brown, upperwing brownish, two narrow grey-buff wingbars; off-white to pale buff below, indistinct grey streaking on breast on some individuals, belly to undertail-coverts pale buff and unstreaked; bill dull orange with darker culmen, legs blackish. Immature male is like female, but with blackish forehead, face and lower throat. Race salvini is slightly larger than nominate, with longer bill, lacks dark hood, also more yellowish-buff and more strongly streaked on underparts.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Forest areas, agricultural land with trees, also in parts of drier zone where tall shrubs and other vegetation present. At all elevations, from arid zone to highland humid zone; most common from transition zone and above.

Resident.

Diet mostly insects and other small arthropods; also seeds, fruit, buds, and sometimes flower nectar. Forages mostly above ground in foliage, occasionally on ground. Techniques include gleaning from leaves and twigs, as well as hanging from tips of branches, often upside-down, to glean items from leaves, buds and twig tips.

Nest built by male, a sphere with entrance at side towards top, made from dry grasses and other vegetation (often moss and lichen used in construction). Clutch usually 4 eggs, whitish with pinkish or brown spots. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Common and widespread. Appears to be the most common and the most widespread of the Galapagos tree-finches. Recent increase in prevalence of avian pox in agricultural areas on Santa Cruz I a potential problem (1 Zylberberg, M., Lee, K. A., Klasing, K. C. and Wikelski. M. (2013). Variation with Land Use of Immune Function and Prevalence of Avian Pox in Galapagos Finches. Conservation Biology. 27(1): 103–112. DOI 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2012.01944.x. Close ).

Alvaro began birding as an 11 year old in Canada, and eventually trained in Evolutionary Ecology studying, creatures as varied as leaf-cutter ants and Argentine cowbirds. But his career has been focused on birding tourism, both as a guide and owner of his tour company, as well as a avitourism consultant to various organizations. He is the author of Birds of Chile, New World Blackbirds: The Icterids, as well as the ABA Field Guide to the birds of California. He lives in Half Moon Bay, California where he is known for his pelagic birding trips. Email: alvaro@alvarosadventures.com.