Head to head
Tristan Thrush vs Wilkins's Bunting
Tristan Thrush
VS Wilkins's Bunting
Both birds are found nowhere else on Earth but the remote Tristan da Cunha islands, yet their diets and adaptations diverge sharply.
| Tristan Thrush | Wilkins's Bunting | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Nesocichla eremita | Nesospiza wilkinsi |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened | Vulnerable |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Range | Across the whole Tristan da Cunha island group | Confined to Inaccessible Island only |
| Diet | Omnivore, including seabird eggs and chicks | Herbivore, specialised on tough Phylica tree seeds |
| Distinguishing feature | Predatory feeding habit for a thrush | One of the largest bills relative to body size of any songbird |
| Local name | Known locally as the starchy | No widely used local nickname documented |
| Habitat | Forest, coastal, grassland | Forest, grassland |
Tristan Thrush vs Wilkins's Bunting: common questions
Which bird has the more specialised bill?
Wilkins's bunting does, with one of the largest bills relative to body size of any songbird, evolved specifically to crack open tough Phylica tree seeds, unlike the more generalist bill of the Tristan thrush.
Which bird occasionally preys on other seabirds?
The Tristan thrush does, occasionally taking the eggs and chicks of other seabirds, an unusually predatory habit for a thrush that Wilkins's bunting does not share.
Which bird is found across more of the Tristan da Cunha islands?
The Tristan thrush is, found across the whole island group, while Wilkins's bunting is confined entirely to Inaccessible Island alone.