Question

The finch species of Galapagos Island are grouped according to their food sources. Which of the following is not a finch fond?
a. Insects
b. Tree buds
c. Seeds
d. Carrion

Answer 1

Hint: The Darwin finches or the Geospiza magnirostris can be classified into three types of species of finches. They are found on the Galapagos Islands. Due to the absence of other species of birds, these finches have adapted to new niches and have shown variations among themselves. The finches' beaks and bodies underwent several changes allowing them to eat certain types of foods such as nuts, fruits, and insects.

Complete answer:
The small black birds that were found in Galapagos Islands and which later came to be known as Darwin's finches were mainly adapted with seed-eating features. From these birds, many other forms evolved which had an altered beak. The alteration of their beaks was mainly due to their food habit. This turned them into insectivorous and vegetarian finches. But no species of finch were seen or recorded to feed upon carrion or decaying dead matter. Option (d) carrion is the correct option, as the fiches mainly depend upon the insects, plants, etc. for food and carrion is not their fond.

The option (a) Insect is incorrect as the finches have insects as their food and they are also known as insectivorous birds.

The option (b) Tree buds, is also an in correct option as some species of the finches rely upon tree buds for their source of food.

The option (c) Seeds is an incorrect option. Many bird finch species are dependent upon seeds for food. They feed on certain plant seeds that are found in that area.

Hence, The correct answer is option (D).

Additional information:
In the Galapagos Islands, the finches successfully adapted to their habitat. This caused a variation among the size and shape of their bills, reflecting their specializations. Vegetarian finch and the ground finch all have crushing bills. The tree finches have a grasping bill while the other cactus finch, warbler finch and the woodpecker finch have probing bills.

These Darwin's finches also differ somewhat in size and their feathers. They have a short and rounded wing. Most of the mature male finches show solid black color, while the mature females show a grayish color. On the other hand, the male vegetarian and tree finch never become entirely black, but have a black head, neck, and upper breast.

Note: The finches differ according to their eating habit. The ground finches eat ticks with their crushing beaks. The sharp-beaked ground finch, also known as the "vampire finch", jumps on the backs of masked boobies and red-footed boobies pecking at their flesh and feeding on their blood. Some other species of finches’ like- woodpecker and mangrove finches use small twigs or cactus spines as a tool to dine onto the larvae stored in tree branches.