One of the rarest birds in the Galápagos—and one of the most endangered songbirds in the entire world. Endemic to the islands, this finch is found only in a few patches of mangrove forest on Isabela Island, making it the most habitat-restricted of all Darwin’s finches. Small and modest in appearance, it has olive-brown plumage streaked with gray, blending perfectly into the tangled roots and branches of its mangrove home. It may look like an ordinary little bird, but its story is one of resilience, scientific importance, and critical conservation urgency.

Unlike other Darwin’s finches that live in highland forests, arid scrub, or open grasslands, this species is entirely tied to mangroves, especially black mangrove trees (Avicennia germinans). It forages for insects in the bark, branches, and tangled root systems, using its slender bill to probe crevices for grubs, beetles, and spiders. This specialized lifestyle has made it an expert insect-hunter but has also confined it to a narrow ecological niche. Because mangroves cover only a tiny portion of the Galápagos Islands, the mangrove finch has always had a small population. Today, its range is so limited that it is restricted to just two small mangrove stands on Isabela Island’s western coast.

Sadly, the mangrove finch is in critical danger of extinction. Fewer than 100 individuals are thought to survive in the wild, with an even smaller number of breeding pairs. The main threat comes from the parasitic fly Philornis downsi, whose larvae infest nests and feed on chicks, often killing them before they can fledge. Invasive species like rats and cats have also taken a toll, and rising sea levels linked to climate change threaten the mangroves themselves.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Ecuador

<100

Official estimate

CR

2021

Galápagos