Grand Cayman bullfinch

Grand Cayman bullfinch
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Thraupidae
Genus:	Melopyrrha
Species:	M. taylori
Binomial name
Melopyrrha taylori Hartert, EJO, 1896
Synonyms
Loxia taylori Loxigilla taylori Pyrrhulagra taylori Melopyrrha nigra taylori

The Grand Cayman bullfinch (Melopyrrha taylori) is a threatened bird endemic to the island of Grand Cayman. It is the only bird species endemic to the Cayman Islands since the extinction of the Grand Cayman thrush (Turdus ravidus), though several bird subspecies are also endemic.

Taxonomy

It was once considered a subspecies of the Cuban bullfinch (M. nigra) as M. nigra taylori. It can be distinguished from the Cuban bullfinch by its slightly larger bill size and the much paler coloration of the female bird.[2]

Habitat

This species breeds primarily in the Central Mangrove Wetland.[3]

Conservation

Its population is declining due to invasive mammals. Habitat fragmentation may also be a potential major risk, though currently this is very low.

References

1. BirdLife International (2020). "Pyrrhulagra taylori". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T103813133A180218485. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T103813133A180218485.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. "Cuban Bullfinch - Introduction | Neotropical Birds Online". neotropical.birds.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
3. "Saving the largest continuous wetland in the Caribbean from destruction - Conservation Action - Our work - The RSPB Community". community.rspb.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-09-15.