Vegetarian finch  (Platyspiza crassirostris)

Description

The vegetarian finch is one of a group of fourteen closely related small birds collectively known as Darwin’s finches, which are famous as an example of how different species can evolve from a single lineage (2). Believed to be one of the earliest of the group to diverge (4) (5), and the only member within its genus, the relatively drab appearance of the vegetarian finch, as with all Darwin’s finches, belies the importance of the group in the development of evolutionary theory (6). The vegetarian finch is mottled brown, with a black head in the male (3) (6), and like the other species has a rather short and rounded wings and tail (2) (6).

Each of Darwin’s finches possesses a unique beak shape, specialised according to the species’ diet (2) (7). The beak of the vegetarian finch is somewhat reminiscent of that of a parrot, being short and thick, with a distinctly downward-curving upper mandible and a biting tip (6) (8). Most species of Darwin’s finches have a yellowish beak which turns black during the breeding season (6).

Darwin Now is the British Council's contribution to the international celebration of the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150 year anniversary of the publication of On The Origin of Species
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