Pinaroloxias inornata — Details

Cocos Finch learn more about names for this taxon

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Overview

Brief Summary

Biology

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Compared with most of its Galapagos relatives, the Cocos finch is more of a generalist in its foraging habits. However, individual birds tend to specialise in a small selection of the various techniques employed by the species as a whole. For instance, while some Cocos finches may forage mainly for insects resting on foliage, others may feed predominately on soft fruit or nectar (2) (6) (7). The comparatively wide range of foraging habits exhibited by the Cocos finch is thought to be indicative of the absence of competition (6). Little is known about the reproductive biology of the Cocos finch, but the clutch size appears to be two eggs and nesting occurs year round with a peak between January and May (2) (8).
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Description

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Darwin's finches are a group of fourteen closely related birds, celebrated as an example of how natural selection can lead to the evolution of different species from a single lineage (3). While thirteen of Darwin's finches are found on the Galapagos, the fourteenth member is confined to the small island of Cocos, just over 600 kilometres to the northeast (2) (3) (4). Like the ground finches of the Galapagos, the adult male plumage of the Cocos finch is completely black (2) (5), while the female Cocos finch is blackish-brown above with olive-brown streaks, and paler buff below with black streaks (2). Darwin's finches are characterised by a wide spectrum of beak forms, with the slender, pointed beak of the Cocos finch being particularly distinct (2) (5) (6).
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Distribution

Range

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Forests of Cocos I. (off w Costa Rica).
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Partner Web Site: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology

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Range Description

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Pinaroloxias inornata is endemic to Cocos Island, c.500 km from Costa Rica, where it is the most common landbird2. It is abundant in the lowlands and sparser at higher altitude.
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Range

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The Cocos finch is endemic to Cocos Island, around 500 kilometres to the southwest of Costa Rica (2) (4).
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Physical Description

Type Information

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Type for Pinaroloxias inornata
Catalog Number: USNM 131680
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Birds
Sex/Stage: Male; Adult
Preparation: Skin: Whole
Collector(s): C. Townsend
Year Collected: 1891
Locality: Cocos Island (Costa Rica), North Pacific Ocean
  • Type: Townsend, C. H. July 1895. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 27 (3): 123.
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
It occupies every available habitat on the island, including Hibiscus thickets along coasts, woodland, open country and closed-canopy forest1,3,4, and is common in disturbed vegetation2. It is a generalist3, but individual birds usually specialise in one or a few of the various foraging techniques employed by the species as a whole4. Nesting occurs throughout the year, but is mostly concentrated in January-May4.

Systems
  • Terrestrial
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Inhabits the lush, tropical forest covering much of the island, but is also found in other habitat types including Hibiscus thickets along the coast and patches of disturbed vegetation (2) (6).
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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
VU
Vulnerable

Red List Criteria
D2

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2008

Assessor/s
BirdLife International

Reviewer/s
Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s

Justification
Although its high tolerance of degraded habitats suggests that this species is unaffected by the impact of introduced herbivores on forested areas, it is listed as Vulnerable because it has a very small range and is thus susceptible to chance catastrophes.

History
  • 2006
    Vulnerable
  • 2004
    Vulnerable
  • 2000
    Vulnerable
  • 1996
    Vulnerable
  • 1994
    Vulnerable
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Status

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Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).
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Population

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Population
Preliminary population estimate requiring further documentation.

Population Trend
Stable
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Threats

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Major Threats
Rats and cats are potential predators, and grazing by feral deer, pigs and goats degrades natural habitats on the island. There is also low-level disturbance from increasing tourism. However, none of these appears to have adverse affects.
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Although rats and cats are potential predators, and feral pigs, goats, and deer are known to reduce habitat quality, the Cocos finch appears to be fairly tolerant of disturbance and remains relatively abundant. However, because it is confined to such a small area, there are concerns that a single catastrophic event could eliminate the entire Cocos finch population (2).
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions Underway
Cocos Island is a national park.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Assess the size of the population. Study the impact of introduced mammals, and factors that may affect the species's abundance.

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Conservation

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Although there are no conservation measures presently underway for the Cocos finch, there are future proposals to assess the role of various factors on the species' abundance (2). Furthermore, the whole of Cocos Island is designated a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2) (4). As a World Heritage Site, Cocos Island is subject to a management plan that aims to ensure the island's conservation through the protection of sensitive sites, the elimination of alien species, the promotion of scientific research, and the control of tourism (4).
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Wikipedia

Cocos Finch

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The Cocos Finch or Cocos Island Finch (Pinaroloxias inornata) is the only one of Darwin's finches not native to the Galápagos Islands, and the only member of the genus Pinaroloxias. Sometimes classified in the family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the finch family Thraupidae. It is endemic to Cocos Island, which is approximately 360 miles south of Costa Rica.

It is a chunky 12 cm long finch weighing around 12.5 g and with a black decurved pointed bill. The male is entirely black, while the female is a heavily-streaked brown, with a paler underside. The young are similar but have yellow bills. The standard clutch is two brown-spotted white eggs, which are hatched in a roughly spherical nest built at the end of a tree branch.

The Cocos Finch is the most abundant landbird on Cocos Island. It can be found in every habitat on the island and eats a wide range of plant and insect food.

This species qualifies as Vulnerable because of its small range.

References [edit]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2012). "Pinaroloxias inornata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 16 July 2012. 

Stiles, F. G.; Skutch, A. F. (October 1989). A guide to the birds of Costa Rica. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4. 

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