Misplaced Pages

Gran Canaria blue chaffinch
Male
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Fringillidae
Subfamily:	Fringillinae
Genus:	Fringilla
Species:	F. polatzeki
Binomial name
Fringilla polatzeki Hartert, 1905
Synonyms
Fringilla teydea polatzeki Hartert, 1905

The Gran Canaria blue chaffinch (Fringilla polatzeki) is a species of passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is endemic to Gran Canaria in Spain's Canary Islands.

Taxonomy

Until 2015, the species Fringilla teydea was classified with two subspecies: Fringilla teydea polatzeki from Gran Canaria and Fringilla teydea teydea from Tenerife. However, a study published in March 2016 showed that a classification as different species, Frigilla polatzeki and Fringilla teydea, is justified.

Description

Gran Canaria blue chaffinches resemble common chaffinches, and are smaller in size than Tenerife blue chaffinches. Other differences are that they have two white bands in the wings, a whiter belly, or less blue shades.

Females are a dull grey-brown. The species is named after the collector Johann Polatzek (1838–1927).

Distribution

This bird is found only in the highlands of Gran Canaria, mainly in the Inagua Natural Reserve. The species' primary habitat is mountain Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) forest in 1.000 m. It is most common in coniferous forest areas with dense, old trees.

Behavior

It primarily eats Canary Island pine seeds. Like the common chaffinch, but, unlike most other finches, its young are fed extensively on insects. Breeding from the end of April to late July or early August, it builds a nest from pine needles and broom branches and lays two eggs. This bird is not migratory. This bird breeding success is low with the cause of predation, mostly by the Great Spotted Woodpecker.

In danger of extinction

The Gran Canaria blue chaffinch is one of the most endangered species of birds on the planet. Unlike the Tenerife blue chaffinch, which has a much wider distribution and compared to that island's population of its species, the Gran Canaria blue chaffinch has an extremely smaller population and is restricted to the area of the pine forests of Ojeda, Inagua and Pajonales.

References

1. BirdLife International (2017). "Fringilla polatzeki". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T103822640A111091107. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T103822640A111091107.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. Integrative taxonomy reveals Europe’s rarest songbird species, the Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch Fringilla polatzeki
3. George Sangster, Felipe Rodríguez Godoy, C. S. Roselaar, Magnus S. Robb y Jolanda A. Luksenburg.«Integrative taxonomy reveals Europe’s rarest songbird species, the Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch Fringilla polatzeki.»
4. Un experto plantea que el pinzón azul de Gran Canaria sea especie única
5. Un experto plantea que el pinzón azul de Gran Canaria sea especie única
6. Un experto plantea que el pinzón azul de Gran Canaria sea especie única

External links

• Article: "The Blue Chaffinch of Gran Canaria Fringilla teydea polatzeki: what next?"
• The bird in Facebook
• Documentary "El pinzón azul de Gran Canaria: biología y conservación del ave más amenazada de Canarias" (1995)
• Play list

v t e Gran Canaria
Category Commons Wikivoyage
Governance	Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands Province of Las Palmas Cabildo insular
Municipalities	Agaete Puerto de las Nieves Agüimes Artenara Arucas Firgas Gáldar Ingenio Mogán Arguineguín Puerto de Mogán Puerto Rico Moya Las Palmas San Agustin San Bartolomé de Tirajana Fataga Maspalomas Playa del Inglés Sonnenland San Fernando San Nicolás de Tolentino Sta. Brígida Sta. Lucía de Tirajana Vecindario Sta. María de Guía Tejeda Telde Teror Valleseco Valsequillo Vega de San Mateo
History	Pre-colonial Conquest of the Canary Islands Battle of Las Palmas Timeline of Las Palmas People from Gran Canaria
Nature	Birds Alvania grancanariensis Gran Canaria blue chaffinch Reptiles Gran Canaria giant lizard Gran Canaria skink Mammals Invertebrates Alvania grancanariensis Maspalomas bow-legged grasshopper
Landmarks and attractions	Ancient sites El Maipés Necropolis Four Doors cave site, Telde Painted Cave, Galdar Caves of Valeron Natural sites Bandama Caldera Fuente de los Azulejos Guayadeque ravine Pico de las Nieves Pilancones Roque Nublo General Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo Palmitos Park Church of San Juan Bautista (Arucas) Las Palmas Cathedral Maspalomas Dunes Atlantic Center of Modern Art Museo Canario Elder Museum of Science and Technology Temisas Astronomical Observatory Yumbo Centrum
Transport	Air Gran Canaria Airport Public transport Autoridad Única del Transporte de Gran Canaria Global Guaguas Municipales Tren de Gran Canaria (planned) Roads GC1 GC2 GC31 GC4 GC5 Sea Puerto de la Luz Port of Las Nieves Trasmediterránea Fred Olsen Express
Sport	General Sportspeople CB Gran Canaria Gran Canaria FS Maspalomas FS Rally Islas Canarias BM Remudas Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria Gran Canaria Maratón Football CD Arguineguín Castillo CF UD Gáldar AD Huracán UD Las Palmas UD Las Palmas Atlético UD Las Palmas C CD Maspalomas CF Panadería Pulido Real Sporting San José UD San Fernando UD Tamaraceite UD Telde UD Vecindario UD Villa de Santa Brígida UD Villa de Santa Brígida B CF Unión Viera Universidad de Las Palmas CF Venues Centro Insular de Deportes Estadio Insular Estadio Gran Canaria Estadio Municipal de Vecindario Gran Canaria Arena
Education and science	Hospital Insular Schools in Las Palmas University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Maspalomas Station
Spain portal   Islands portal

1. Iñigo, L., & E, G.-del-R. (n.d.). Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch Fringilla polatzeki. Gran Canaria blue chaffinch (Fringilla polatzeki) - birdlife species factsheet. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/gran-canaria-blue-chaffinch-fringilla-polatzeki/text

• IUCN Red List endangered species
• Fringilla
• Birds of the Canary Islands
• Birds described in 1905
• Fauna of Gran Canaria