Photo: putneymark / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Cactus Finch
Geospiza scandens
Common Cactus Finch (Geospiza scandens) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Cactus Finch (Geospiza scandens) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 22.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Geospiza
- Species scandens
Quick facts
- Weight
- 22.7 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Cactus Finch is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Common Cactus Finch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Common Cactus Finch (Geospiza scandens) is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Galápagos.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.7 g, with a wing length of about 7.2 cm and a tail of around 4.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 7,103 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Cactus Finch?
The Common Cactus Finch is a small bird that weighs around 22.7 g.
Where does the Common Cactus Finch live?
The Common Cactus Finch is found across South America with a range covering SA Galápagos, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Common Cactus Finch belong to?
The Common Cactus Finch (Geospiza scandens) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Common Cactus Finch eat?
The Common Cactus Finch is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Common Cactus Finch migrate?
The Common Cactus Finch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Common Cactus Finch endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Cactus Finch make?
1 real field recording of the Common Cactus Finch — including its dawn song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Cactus Finch's range?
The Common Cactus Finch has a mapped global range of about 7,103 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Thraupidae
A field guide to the Thraupidae family — 394 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.