The Saint Lucia black finch is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is endemic to Saint Lucia, where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and plantations.
Region
Lesser Antilles (Eastern Caribbean)
Typical Environment
Endemic to Saint Lucia, occurring in patches of subtropical and tropical moist lowland forest, dry shrubland, second growth, and some shaded plantations (e.g., banana and cocoa). It favors dense thickets, forest edges, and ravines with abundant leaf litter for ground foraging. The species can persist in moderately disturbed habitats provided sufficient understory cover remains. It avoids heavily urbanized or open agricultural areas with little cover. Nesting typically occurs in low shrubs or dense vines.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This shy, ground-oriented finch is found only on the island of Saint Lucia, where it skulkily forages in dense understory and leaf litter. It persists in native forest as well as secondary growth and some plantations, but habitat loss and invasive predators remain major threats. Conservation actions focus on protecting remaining forest tracts and managing invasive mammals. It is legally protected and rarely seen by casual visitors due to its secretive habits.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Nests are typically cup-shaped and placed low in dense shrubs or tangles. Pairs maintain small territories with secretive foraging on or near the ground. Outside breeding, small family parties may form but large flocks are uncommon.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of thin, high-pitched whistles and chirps delivered from low cover. Calls include sharp tik notes and soft contact chips. Vocalizations are modest in volume and easily overlooked amid forest sounds.
Plumage
Males are largely sooty-black with a matte appearance and minimal gloss; females are duskier, tending dark brownish-olive with paler underparts. Both sexes show a plain, unpatterned look with no wing bars and a sturdy finch-like silhouette. Subtle pale throat or belly wash may be visible at close range.
Diet
Feeds on small seeds, insects, and other arthropods, supplemented with buds and small fruits. Ground foraging in leaf litter is common, where it picks seeds and invertebrates. It will also glean from low shrubs and grasses along edges and in secondary growth. Diet may shift seasonally with availability of seeds and insect prey.
Preferred Environment
Dense understory of moist and dry forests, thickets along forest edges, and overgrown plantation margins. Often forages in shaded leaf litter, tangled vines, and among low saplings where cover is abundant.
