The Darwin’s Finches’ Remarkable Story
Galapagos Finches or Darwin’s Finches are the type of species which Charles Darwin collected from the past. Generally, there are actually 14 Darwin’s finches; 13 in Galapagos Islands and one in Coco’s Island that is approximately 400 miles north from Galapagos Island.
It was in the Galapagos Islands where the facts about the evolution of Darwin’s Finches took place. Finches have the same aptitude as woodpeckers since they are capable to peck on the woods; as well as with the vampire finches that suck blood of the other birds. Genetic analysts have stated that the 13 of species of Darwin’s finches have developed from flock of 30 birds that arrived in the island about million years ago.
Darwin’s finches have sizes from ten to twenty centimeters. In fact, the significant differences between them are the size and shape of their beaks. The sizes and shapes of their beaks have changed and developed in time because of the supply of food sources. Finches with large beak can catch bigger nuts or seeds, while finches with small beaks choose smaller seeds.
Not just the size of seeds, the finches have different characteristics in terms of sources of foods. Some of them eat leaves and insects while others prefer turtle ticks. Vampire finch, for example, feed on blood of seabirds. Also, they are one of the most popular birds for their capability to utilize “tools” made from cactus spine and twigs as they consume their food. For them to feed on the larvae and insects, the woodpecker finches make use of these twigs to catch them under the cacti and trees.
For crushing nuts and kernels, the ground finches have to utilize their beaks for it. The beaks of Vampire Finches are intended for sucking blood of other birds and some parasitic insects to feed themselves. The tree finches are also another kind of Darwin’s finches. They mostly consume different insects and vary from the ground finches by sharpness of their beak which are better well-matched in grasping several kinds of foods.
As mentioned, there were 13 Darwin’s finches species in the Island of Galapagos wherein it belongs to the Geospiza genus, bird species from South America. Without a doubt, these birds species are mainly popular for their implication in the progress of theory of evolution, their unique characteristics and their recognition since they are well-liked pet choices among bird enthusiasts.
