Head to head
Tristan Bunting vs Wilkins's Bunting
Tristan Bunting
VS Wilkins's Bunting
Both buntings belong to the same unusual adaptive radiation found only in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, but their diets and bills diverge sharply.
| Tristan Bunting | Wilkins's Bunting | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Nesospiza acunhae | Nesospiza wilkinsi |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Bill size | Relatively modest | One of the largest bills relative to body size of any songbird |
| Diet | Wide variety of seeds | Specialised on tough Phylica tree seeds |
| Range | Tristan Island and Nightingale Island | Confined to Inaccessible Island only |
| Ecological role | Generalist seed-eater | Extreme dietary specialist |
| Habitat | Forest, grassland, coastal | Forest, grassland |
Tristan Bunting vs Wilkins's Bunting: common questions
Which bunting has the more specialised diet?
Wilkins's bunting does, feeding almost exclusively on the tough seeds of the Phylica tree with a bill evolved specifically for that purpose, unlike the Tristan bunting's much broader seed diet.
Which bunting is found on more islands?
The Tristan bunting is, found across both Tristan Island and Nightingale Island, while Wilkins's bunting is confined entirely to Inaccessible Island alone.
Which bunting has the larger bill?
Wilkins's bunting does, carrying one of the largest bills relative to body size of any songbird, considerably larger than the Tristan bunting's more modest bill.