Cocos Finch

Finches are discovered by the famous Charles Darwin during his voyage in the Pacific Ocean where he was able to identify 14 closely related species. Darwin’s theory on Natural Selection was further supported by his discovery of these birds where out of the 14 total species of finches, 13 can be found in Galapagos island while a lone species thrives in Cocos Island.

Cocos Finch (Pinaroloxias inornata)

Maximum Length: 12 centimeters
Maximum Weight: 16 grams
Frequency: Abundant only in Cocos Island

Similar to its Galapagos ground cousins, the male Cocos Finch are generally black in color while its female counterpart has a black to brown undertone with olive brown streaks. Although Galapagos and Cocos Finch may look similar, the behavior of these birds is what sets them apart from one another. While the Galapagos species are considered specialist, the Cocos Finch are more of a generalist especially when it comes to feeding. The endemic Cocos Finch will feast from insects hiding in foliage, eat fruits or suck up nectar just like the feeding habits of a bee. This manifestation showing a wide range of feeding techniques shows that there is less competition when it comes to food for this small endemic birds, thus making their population continue to increase.

Black is Luck

Old belief tells us that if you see a black bird, it means that bad luck is coming to you. But that is not the case if you see the black-colored Cocos Finch. Since these birds thrives in the lush forest of Cocos Island or sometimes in the vegetated coastline, it means that you have spent an ample time in the island where our presence is absolutely restricted. This means that you are one of the lucky few to set foot on Cocos Island.

If you truly are lucky, then maximize your chances of seeing this elusive black bird. First, the best time to go bird watching and in search for the Cocos Finch is from January and May where they can easily be found nesting on top of small branches. Prove your luck if you are 100% lucky and find their eggs where a nest usually nestles 2 eggs.

Threat and Conservation

While the Cocos Finch are known to be tolerant from environment factors, the introduction of new species like rats and cats poses a threat and can become its predator. Further, other introduced species like feral pigs, goats and deer can significantly reduced the quality and size of its habitat.

But what scientist are really worried about, since Cocos Finch tends to populate and concentrate themselves in a small area of the island, is a catastrophic event that can seriously damage their niche or potentially wipe-out the population. Example of this catastrophic event is global warming where birds are highly sensitive to temperature change.

As for their conservation, there is no direct conservation measures address directly to Cocos Finch since their population is thriving well in the island. But what the Costa Rican government is focusing is the preservation of its habitat where this black bird is highly dependent.

Reference

Wikipedia: www.wikipedia.org

Arkive: www.arkive.org

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: www.neotropical.birds.cornell.edu