Melopyrrha portoricensis
The Puerto Rican Bullfinch (Melopyrrha portoricensis) is a striking, medium-sized songbird, endemic to the island of Puerto Rico. Measuring approximately 14-16 cm (5.5-6.3 inches) in length and weighing 16-20 grams, the species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are entirely glossy black with vibrant, contrasting red-orange patches on their throat and undertail coverts, making them instantly recognizable. Females, while still predominantly dark, are a duller sooty-black with smaller...
Endemic to Puerto Rico, this adaptable species thrives in various forested habitats across all elevations, from coastal dry forests to montane wet forests, and even urban green spaces and coffee plantations.
Primarily omnivorous, their diet consists mainly of small fruits, seeds, insects, and occasionally nectar, foraged by gleaning and probing foliage.
Puerto Rican Bullfinches are diurnal, typically observed foraging alone or in pairs within the dense understory and mid-story vegetation. They employ a gleaning and probing foraging strategy, meticulously searching leaves, bark, and flowers for food items. Males are notably territorial, often usi...
The Puerto Rican Bullfinch is entirely endemic to the island of Puerto Rico, where it is a resident species found year-round. Its distribution spans the entire island, adapting to a wide array of forested habitats. It can be found from coastal dry forests, such as those in Guánica, to the lush, w...
Least Concern
- Despite its common name, the Puerto Rican Bullfinch is not a true finch but belongs to the tanager family (Thraupidae). - The male's striking red-orange throat and undertail coverts against its glossy black plumage make it one of the most visually distinctive birds in Puerto Rico. - It is an en...