Kingdom Animalia Class Aves Family Fringillidae Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Passeriformes Subfamily Fringillinae | |
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Similar Tenerife blue chaffinch, Fringilla, Canary Islands chiffchaff, African blue tit, Tenerife goldcrest | ||
The Gran Canaria blue chaffinch (Fringilla polatzeki) is a species of passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is endemic to Gran Canaria in Spain's Canary Islands.
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Taxonomy
Until 2015 the species Fringilla teydea was classified in two subspecies: Fringilla teydea polatzeki from Gran Canaria and Fringilla teydea teydea from Tenerife. However, a study published in March 2016 showed that a classification as different species, Frigilla polatzeki and Fringilla teydea, is justified.
Description
Blue chaffinches resemble common chaffinches, and are a smaller in size than Tenerife blue chaffinches. Other differences are that they have two white bands in the wings very marked, a whiter belly, or less blue shades.
Females are a dull grey-brown.
Distribution
This bird is found only in the highlands of Gran Canaria, mainly in the Inagua Natural Reserve. The species' primary habitat is mountain Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) forest in 1.000 m. It is most common in coniferous forest areas with dense, old trees.
Behavior
It primarily eats Canary Island pine seeds. Like the common chaffinch, but, unlike most other finches, its young are fed extensively on insects. Breeding from the end of April to late July or early August, it builds a nest from pine needles and broom branches, and lays two eggs. This bird is not migratory.
In danger of extinction
The Gran Canaria blue chaffinch is one of the most endangered species of birds planet. Unlike the Tenerife blue chaffinch which has a much wider distribution and by that island population, the species of Gran Canaria has an extremely smaller population and is restricted to the area of pine forest of Ojeda, Inagua and Pajonales.