Mike Unwin

Large Ground-Finch

About the Dark-faced Ground-tyrant

The Large Ground-Finch (Geospiza magnirostris) is a land bird endemic to the Galápagos Islands. It is one of the iconic Darwin’s finches.

The Large Ground-Finch is known for its big and and powerful beak, an evolutionary adaptation that enabled this bird to feed on a variety of food supplies. The Large Ground-Finch has modest plumage; adult male birds are typically black, while females and juveniles are brown with streaks.

The Large Ground-Finch is one of the key examples of adaptive radiation, an evolutionary process in which a single ancestral species diversified into multiple related species, each adapted to a specific ecological niche.

Commonality of Large Ground-Finches

IUCN classifies the Large Ground-Finch as Least Concern. These birds are commonly seen in the Galápagos. Nevertheless, because the Large Ground-Finch is an endemic species, it can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

Protection & Threats

The population of the Large Ground-Finch is stable. The Galápagos National Park protects the habitat of these birds.

Climate Change

Climate change can negatively impact food availability by affecting the growth of seed-producing plants, the primary food source for Large Ground-Finches.