News Animals

Parasites ruin some finches’ songs by chewing through the birds’ beaks

Gaping gaps may create discord for male birds wooing a mate

tree finch

OUT OF TUNE  Parasitic fly larvae chew through the beaks of some tree finches (Camarhynchus parvulus shown) in the Galápagos Islands, changing the birds’ songs and possibly their chances at landing a mate.

Katharina J. Peters

By Carolyn Wilke

- More than 2 years ago

Invasive parasites in the Galápagos Islands may leave some Darwin’s tree finches singing the blues.