Tenerife blue chaffinch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tenerife blue chaffinch |
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| Genus: |
Fringilla
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| Species: |
teydea
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The Tenerife blue chaffinch (Fringilla teydea) is a special type of passerine bird from the finch family. It lives only on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands. This beautiful bird is a natural symbol of Tenerife, just like the famous Canary Islands dragon tree.
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About the Tenerife Blue Chaffinch Family
For a long time, scientists thought there were two types of blue chaffinches. One lived on Gran Canaria island, and the other on Tenerife. They were called subspecies of the same bird. But in 2016, new studies showed that these two types are actually different species! So now, the Gran Canaria blue chaffinch (Fringilla polatzeki) and the Tenerife blue chaffinch (Fringilla teydea) are seen as separate birds.
What Does the Tenerife Blue Chaffinch Look Like?
Tenerife blue chaffinches look a bit like common chaffinches. However, they are bigger and have a thicker beak. Their feathers are mostly one color, and they don't have a dark cap on their head.
- Female birds are a dull grey-brown. You can tell them apart from common chaffinches because their wing bars are not as strong.
- Male birds during breeding season are easy to spot! They have bright blue feathers, which is how they got their name. Their beak is grey.
Where Do Tenerife Blue Chaffinches Live?
This bird lives only in the high areas of Tenerife. Its main home is in the mountain Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) forests. They are most common in pine forests with lots of plants growing underneath. You might also find them in forests with laurel trees, pine trees, or areas with low bushes. They usually prefer to live at heights between 1,100 and 2,000 meters (about 3,600 to 6,500 feet). But if the weather gets bad, they might fly down to lower areas.
How Do Tenerife Blue Chaffinches Behave?
Sounds and Food
The song of the Tenerife blue chaffinch is shorter and not as strong as a common chaffinch's song. Their call when flying sounds a bit croaky. These birds mainly eat seeds from the Canary Island pine trees. When they are young, they eat a lot of insects. This is similar to common chaffinches but different from most other finches.
Life Cycle and Habits
Tenerife blue chaffinches breed from late April to late July or early August. They build their nests using pine needles and branches from broom plants. Usually, they lay two eggs. These birds do not migrate, meaning they stay in Tenerife all year round. Outside of the breeding season, they might form small groups. Sometimes, they even join groups of common chaffinches or other finches.
Gallery
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Female
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Egg of Fringilla teydea teydea MHNT
See also
In Spanish: Pinzón azul de Tenerife para niños
- Gran Canaria blue chaffinch
- List of animal and plant symbols of the Canary Islands
