FINCHforum

Has anyone heared about the Vampire Finch before?

I know I most certainly haven't.

Nasty little things really, but interesting non the less.

https://youtu.be/h6fqrDShlMM

I have.
If it makes you feel better, it is not a "real finch", unrelated to the finches kept as pets.

w.l.

An amazing sort of parasitic bird, isn't it?

I have never come across this one before, and most definitely not like to add one of them to my bird collection, lol .

Well, one of the many wonders of Galapagos!
Mind you, for all their famous specializations, Galapagos finches are incredibly drab brown birds, not much to look at.

w.l.

I have never been there, so I wouldn't know, but found the idea of a vampire finch fascinating .

From what I could see on the video, they basically live off pecking bits and pieces off other living birds and their young, and feasting on the occasional egg.

It's a strange world, isn't it....

It was one of my childhood dreams to visit Galapagos and about 4 years ago I did.
I didn't see Vampire Finches, whose distribution is, for better or worse, restricted to some remote islands, but saw plenty of other Galapagos finches that all look much the same and are the last word in drabness.

w.l.

Lucky you, that's an opportunity that not everyone gets.

I always think of the Galapagos, as one of those isolated wind swept places, where Nature rules, without too much interference from people, although now days I suppose that's no longer the case either...

What else did you see on your trip there?

The islands still feel quite remote and desolate, even though parts of 4 of them are inhabited and of course planeloads of tourists arrive to visit every day. Most of the latter go straight on cruiseboats and you never see them.
DIY visitors are a minority, and if you walk trails etc, you can often be alone with the wildlife, which is amazingly time.
I saw most of the iconic stuff: giant tortoises, marine and land iguanas, sea lions, penguins, seabirds... and of course some of the famous "Darwinian" finches.

w.l.

Sounds like an amazing trip

Yes, I was happy with it.
It is closer to you than to me though.
Kind of the same continent at least, isn't it?
In case you are keen to visit yourself.

w.l.

Well, it's close to Ecuador, which is hardly close to me, lol.

However, I guess I am 2,182 km closer than you are, so when you're right, you're right

lovezebs

Would have been oddly satisfying to see that adult bird reach around and chomp that little bird.

That was very strange to watch. Definitely a bit of nature I knew nothing about. wow...

Wow what a neat bird! I love stuff like this. Oxpeckers do similar but on mammals. They also eat the animals ear wax and the occasional parasite.

Babs Chihuahua

Yes, Nature most definitely has some weird ones tucked into her back pockets.

Eating ear wax.... now that's just gross.

w.l. wrote: ...
Mind you, for all their famous specializations, Galapagos finches are incredibly drab brown birds, not much to look at.

Hey now, be nice! I loves me some little brown birds!

Bengalese/societies. Owls. Munia/mannikins. Spice. Silverbills. Etc etc etc.