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Common Cactus-Finch
Geospiza scandens
Silhouette: Ryan Cupo · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyThraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
- GenusGeospiza (Ground-Finches and Cactus-Finches)
- SpeciesGeospiza scandens (Common Cactus-Finch)
In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%
2,476 Verified sightings at Galápagos Islands From 2019 to 2026
2,476 In 1 park
May Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
About the Common Cactus-Finch
The common cactus finch or small cactus finch (Geospiza scandens) is a species of bird in the Darwin's finch group of the tanager family Thraupidae. It is endemic to the Galapagos Islands, where it is found on most islands, with the notable exception of Fernandina, Española, Genovesa, Darwin and Wolf. Most of these islands are inhabited by its close relative, the Española cactus finch.
Its natural habitats are dry scrubland and woodland. It is often closely associated with the cactus Opuntia. The common cactus finch is one of nine species in the genus Geospiza, part of a group of closely related species known as Darwin's finches. There are four recognized subspecies: G. s. abingdoni is found on Pinta.
G. s. intermedia is found on Santa Fé, Floreana, Santa Cruz, Isabela and Pinzón. Found in the arid zone of many of the islands in the Galápagos, the common cactus finch is rarely far from areas of Opuntia cactus. Swash, Andy; Still, Rob (2005). Birds, Mammals and Reptiles of the Galápagos Islands (2nd ed.). London: Christopher... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Common Cactus-Finch in Galápagos Islands
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Closest Relatives at Galápagos Islands
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Common Cactus-Finch in Galápagos Islands?
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Cactus-Finch sighting in Galápagos Islands on a given day, based on 2,476 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 34th most-seen of the 114 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Common Cactus-Finch in Galápagos Islands?
May and December
In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Cactus-Finch in Galápagos Islands on a given day, against about 20% in January–April and June–November, the lowest months.
What time of day is best to see a Common Cactus-Finch?
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Cactus-Finch sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Where else can you see a Common Cactus-Finch?
Only Galápagos Islands, in our data
Galápagos Islands is the only park on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Common Cactus-Finch sightings: about 20% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.
Which relatives of the Common Cactus-Finch live in Galápagos Islands?
Same genus: Geospiza
The closest relatives of the Common Cactus-Finch that you can see in Galápagos Islands (genus Geospiza, Ground-Finches and Cactus-Finches) are Small Ground-Finch (about 70%), Medium Ground-Finch (about 50%) and Large Ground-Finch (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
Where does the Common Cactus-Finch sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Cactus-Finch is recorded against all the birds logged in Galápagos Islands (2,476 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
