Grand Cayman bullfinch

The Grand Cayman bullfinch 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, though several bird subspecies are also endemic.

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Distribution

Region

Caribbean

Typical Environment

Confined to Grand Cayman, it occupies dry limestone coppice, coastal scrub, and woodland edges with dense understory. It also uses secondary growth, thickets along roads and tracks, and the margins of mangroves. Birds often forage at low levels or on the ground where leaf litter and seed-bearing shrubs are abundant. It tolerates lightly modified areas such as gardens with dense shrub cover but avoids highly urbanized zones.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 25 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size15–17 cm

Wing Span22–26 cm

Male Weight0.029 kg

Female Weight0.026 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Endemic to Grand Cayman, this bullfinch is the only surviving bird species unique to the Cayman Islands, following the extinction of the Grand Cayman thrush. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Cuban bullfinch but is now widely recognized as a full species. Habitat loss, invasive predators, and development pressure threaten its small island population. Conservation actions focus on habitat protection and controlling invasive mammals.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

shy and skulking

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Usually encountered as pairs or small family groups and is territorial during the breeding season. Nests are placed low to mid-level in dense shrubs or thickets, where both parents participate in care. Courtship includes soft calls and short chases within cover.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

The song is a series of rich, whistled phrases interspersed with chips and trills. Calls include sharp metallic ticks and harsher scolds when alarmed.

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Identification

Leg Colorpinkish-brown

Eye Colordark brown

Plumage

Males are mostly sooty-black with a bold white wing patch and clean, smooth plumage; females are olive-brown to gray-brown with paler underparts and a more subdued, plain-winged look.

Feeding Habits

Diet

Feeds on a mix of seeds, berries, and small fruits, using its powerful bill to crack hard seeds. It supplements its diet with insects and other small invertebrates, especially during breeding. Birds often glean among leaves and probe fruit clusters, and will pick items from the ground.

Preferred Environment

Forages in dense scrub, coppice edges, and low, tangled vegetation where seed-bearing plants are common. It also uses hedgerows and overgrown lots, occasionally visiting gardens with thick shrubs.

Population

Total Known Populationunknown

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