| Warbler Finch | |
|---|---|
| Grey Warbler Finch on Española | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Thraupidae |
| Genus: | Certhidea Gould, 1837 |
| Species: | C. olivacea |
| Binomial name | |
| Certhidea olivacea Gould, 1837 |
|
The Warbler Finch (Certhidea olivacea) is a species of bird, one of Darwin's finches in the tanager family Thraupidae. Sometimes classified in the family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the tanager family. It is the only member of the genus Certhidea. When Darwin collected it in 1835 during the Beagle survey expedition he mistakenly thought it was a wren, but on return to England he was informed in March 1837 by the ornithologist John Gould that the bird was in the group of finches.[1]
It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
This species has two distinct subspecies groups, sometimes recognised as separate species. These groups differ in appearance, distribution, habitat, and song. The Green Warbler Finch group consists of only one subspecies, the nominate olivacea, from Santiago, Rábida, Pinzón, Isabela, Fernandina, and Santa Cruz. Green Warbler Finches have a greenish coloration to blend into their lusher semihumid forest habitats, as well as distinctive reddish throat patches on breeding males. The Grey Warbler Finch group consists of the subspecies fusca from Pinta and Marchena, becki from Darwin and Wolf, mentalis from Genovesa, bifasciata from Santa Fé, cinerascens from Española, luteola from San Cristóbal, and ridgwayi from Floreana. Grey Warbler Finches are found mostly in the shrubland and dry forest of smaller drier islands, and have a suitable coloration for their habitat.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist montanes, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.