Geospiza magnirostris Skull Replica or Large Ground Finch is museum quality polyurethane cast. Geospiza magnirostris Skull Replica is male 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA. One of Darwin’s Finches.
The Geospiza magnirostris or Large ground finch is a species of bird. One of Darwin’s finches, it is now placed in the family Thraupidae and was formerly in the Emberizidae.
It is endemic to the Galapagos Islands, and is found in the arid zone of most of the archipelago, though it is absent from the southeastern islands (Floreana, Española, San Cristóbal, and Santa Fé).
The adult male is almost entirely black, except the slightly browner wings and tail, and the white streaked black vent. The tail is relatively short.
It is the largest species of Darwin’s finch both in total size and size of beak. It has a large, stubby beak for cracking and consuming nuts. Upper mandible starts over the eye line.
The massive bill has a thick base of lower mandible and curved culmen. Like in other males’ finches, the bill is black during the breeding season, turning orange-yellow outside this period. The eyes are dark brown. Legs and feet are blackish.
Its large beak allows it to feed on the largest available seeds and large insects. The bill shape also involves slower and lower-pitched sounds and more nasal calls. It is usually found in arid lowland areas.
Like in other male finches, the bill is black during the breeding season, turning orange-yellow outside this period. The eyes are dark brown. Legs and feet are blackish.
The female Geospiza magnirostris or Large ground finch has dark brown plumage with pale buff to grey fringing, involving scaled pattern on the upperparts. Head and breast are streaked, with the dark streaks becoming paler on lower breast, and less distinct on belly and undertail coverts.
The bill’s color varies according to the breeding state, from dark with orange base and yellow tip, to entirely orange-yellow.
Geospiza magnirostris or Large ground finch feeds on large seeds, fruits and caterpillars. It has also been observed feeding nestlings with large spiders.
Geospiza magnirostris or Large ground finches usually stay within the vicinity of their nests if foraging is necessary. Nests are built in bushes or cacti, 3 to 9 meters above the ground and made of twigs, dry grasses and lichens.
The breeding season starts shortly after the first rains and egg laying occurs mostly during high rainfall periods. The female finch lays four eggs and the hatching occurs in about 12 days.
Chicks fledge 13–15 days after hatching, and are fed maily with insects.