Photo: drjayf / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
St. Lucia Black Finch
Melanospiza richardsoni
St. Lucia Black Finch (Melanospiza richardsoni) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
The St. Lucia Black Finch (Melanospiza richardsoni) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 20.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Melanospiza
- Species richardsoni
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20.9 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The St. Lucia Black Finch is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The St. Lucia Black Finch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The St. Lucia Black Finch (Melanospiza richardsoni) belongs to the Thraupidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA St. Lucia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20.9 g, with a wing length of about 6.5 cm and a tail of around 4.4 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 293 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the St. Lucia Black Finch?
The St. Lucia Black Finch is a small bird that weighs around 20.9 g.
Where does the St. Lucia Black Finch live?
The St. Lucia Black Finch is found across North America with a range covering NA St. Lucia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the St. Lucia Black Finch belong to?
The St. Lucia Black Finch (Melanospiza richardsoni) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the St. Lucia Black Finch eat?
The St. Lucia Black Finch is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the St. Lucia Black Finch migrate?
The St. Lucia Black Finch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the St. Lucia Black Finch endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the St. Lucia Black Finch make?
1 real field recording of the St. Lucia Black Finch — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the St. Lucia Black Finch's range?
The St. Lucia Black Finch has a mapped global range of about 293 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
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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.