Galapagos Species Database

Taxon category: Accepted

This species is closely related to the Green Warbler Finch, and were formerly considered conspecific, but both species differed in appearance, distribution, habitat, and song. Syn.: Certhidea olivacea Gould, 1837. A recent genetic study has shown a single colonization event about 850 000 yrs ago from southern central America rather than continental Ecuador.

Origin: Endemic

Preference for an altitude zone in Galapagos: Dry zone - transition zone

Habitat preferences: Found in drier habitats than C. olivacea, but also at moderate to high elevation on San Cristóbal.

Substrate or host preferences: Forages in trees and shrubs, searching foliage leaf clusters and epiphytes and probing mosses (especially during the dry season), for arthropods.

Trophic role: Carnivorous

Reproductive biology: Male displays in front of a dome shape nest. Once chosen, the pair either use this nest or build a new one. Only females incubate (two to three eggs), both feed the chicks. Fledglings stay for up to 6 weeks with a parent, either with the male while the female starts a new clutch, or, one with the female and the other with the male.

Distribution: C. fusca is found on the smaller islands in the north, east and south of the archipelago, practically spanning the entire length of the archipelago. Present on Española, Genovesa, Marchena, Pinta, San Cristobal, Santa Fé. No recent records from Dawrin and Wolf; Extinct on Floreana.

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