Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis) [XC816750]
by Paul Driver from Bellavista (near Puerto Ayora), Santa Cruz, Islas Gal\u00e1pagos, Ecuador (call)
Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis) [XC22427]
by Eric DeFonso from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Floreana, Galapagos, Ecuador (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Recent molecular-genetic research suggests that the Galapagos group consisting of present genus and Certhidea, Platyspiza and Camarhynchus, known collectively as "Darwin's finches", is allied to the tanagers (Thraupidae), being closest to Coereba, Tiaris and several Caribbean genera. Present species hybridizes rarely with Small Ground-finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) and with Common Cactus-finch (Geospiza scandens); on Santa Cruz, large-scale hybridization with Large Ground-finch (Geospiza magnirostris) thought to have occurred.