The St. Kitts bullfinch, known locally as the mountain blacksmith, is a possibly extinct songbird species of the genus Melopyrrha which was endemic to the island of Saint Kitts.
Region
Lesser Antilles
Typical Environment
Historically restricted to upland and montane forest on the island of Saint Kitts. It favored dense thickets, forest edges, and secondary growth where fruiting shrubs and seed-bearing plants were abundant. The species likely used adjacent plantations and scrub during feeding bouts but relied on native woodland for nesting. Human-driven habitat changes and introduced predators probably fragmented its already small range.
Altitude Range
300–1100 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Known locally as the mountain blacksmith, this bullfinch was confined to the highlands of Saint Kitts. It was likely impacted by habitat loss and introduced predators; no confirmed records exist for many decades, and it may be extinct. Its thick, conical bill was adapted for cracking hard seeds and fruit pits.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically encountered singly or in pairs, forming small family groups after breeding. Nests were likely cup-shaped and placed low to mid-height in dense shrubs. Both parents probably participated in feeding the young, as in related bullfinches.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Calls reported as sharp, metallic ‘tink’ notes that inspired the local name ‘blacksmith.’ Songs were likely simple, with short whistles and chipping phrases delivered from cover.
Plumage
Robust bullfinch with dense, smooth plumage; males presumed mostly dark and glossy, females duskier and browner. Feathers often show subtle pale edging on the wings and tail when worn.
Diet
Feeds on hard seeds, berries, and fruit pulp, using its strong bill to crack husks and pits. Likely supplements its diet with flower buds and small invertebrates, especially during the breeding season. Opportunistic foraging on cultivated fruits and weedy seeds probably occurred near forest edges.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense shrub layers, forest margins, and secondary woodland. Also visits edges of plantations and overgrown clearings where food plants are common.
