Greater Antillean Bullfinch Melopyrrha violacea Scientific name definitions

The Greater Antillean Bulllfinch is a common resident of Hispaniola, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. It can commonly be seen in many habitats, including secondary vegetation, coppice, and mangroves. The male is all black with a short red supercilum, throat, and undertail coverts, while the female duller black, with duller red in the same pattern. Young birds show grayish olive in place of black. This species shows variation in bill size between islands, but is generally large-billed for its body size in comparison to other Loxigilla bullfinches. The Greater Antillean Bullfinch has a high, thin, and raspy call and song, and can be seen foraging low in the understory individually or in small groups.

13·2–17·5 cm; 18–32·4 g. Sturdy, with thick bill. Male nominate race is black, with red-orange short supercilium, throat and undertail-coverts; iris dark; bill dark grey; legs dusky. Female is similar to male, but duller black, more slaty, especially on upper­parts. Juvenile is like female, but less greyish, upperparts brown, reddish-orange markings as on adults, but reduced in size on throat. Race ofella resembles nominate, but smaller; affinis smaller and glossier than nominate; <em>maurella</em> is like last, but larger; <em>ruficollis</em> is larger than nominate, duller and greyer, with paler rufous on throat and supercilium.

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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.

Feeds mostly on fruits and seeds , also on flower parts and snails (Gastropoda). Tends to keep in dense vegetation; probably feeds on or near ground.

Song  a repeated trill of insect-like notes, “t’zeet t’zeet t’seet t’seet seet seet seet”. Call  a thin “spit”.