The Cuban bullfinch is a species of songbird belonging to the genus Melopyrrha. It is a member of the tanager family Thraupidae falls under the subfamily Coerebinae, which also includes Darwin's finches.
Region
Caribbean (Cuba)
Typical Environment
Occurs across much of Cuba, including larger offshore islands, in dense scrub, woodland edges, and second-growth. It frequents thorny thickets, coastal scrub, and mangrove margins, and also uses coffee and fruit plantations and overgrown gardens. Prefers areas with abundant seed- and fruit-bearing shrubs and a layered understory. Often keeps low in cover, moving by short flights between bushes.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The Cuban bullfinch is a tanager (family Thraupidae) in the subfamily Coerebinae, the same lineage that includes Darwin’s finches. It was formerly lumped with the Cayman bullfinch but is now treated as a separate species. Its stout, crushing bill is adapted to cracking tough seeds, yet it readily takes fruit and insects. It favors dense thickets, which makes it more often heard than seen.
Temperament
secretive and cautious
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family groups, sometimes loosely associating with mixed-species flocks in scrub. Nests are placed low to mid-level in dense shrubs; the nest is a small cup of fibers and twigs. Both parents typically participate in feeding the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, mellow whistles interspersed with sharp chip notes. Calls include thin tseet and a dry tick, often given from within cover.
Plumage
Male is mostly black with a uniform, slightly glossy appearance; female is dusky brown to gray-brown with paler underparts. Both sexes have a short, thick, conical bill and subtle pale edging on the wing coverts. Juveniles resemble females and lack the male’s dark uniformity.
Diet
Consumes a mix of seeds, berries, and small invertebrates. Uses its robust bill to crack hard seeds and capsules. Also takes soft fruits and occasionally flower buds and nectar, especially when fruiting shrubs are abundant.
Preferred Environment
Forages low in dense shrubs, vine tangles, and along forest edges. Often feeds in weedy patches, hedgerows, and overgrown plantation margins where seed-bearing plants are common.
