Vampire finch, also called the vampire ground finch, is a small songbird known to feed on the blood of animals. It is found on some of the Galapagos Islands, a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles (970 kilometers) west of Ecuador.
Vampire finches usually feed on blood only when such foods as insects or seeds are scarce. They often prey upon blue-footed boobies, large seabirds that are common on the Galapagos Islands. The vampire finch aggressively pecks at its prey and drinks the blood that flows from the wound. The animals are usually not harmed by the small wounds. The finches also push eggs from bird nests, feeding on the yolk when they break open.
The vampire finch is closely related to other sharp-beaked finches found on Wolf and Darwin islands in the Galapagos chain. Scientists think that the vampire finch’s blood-feeding behavior developed from the habit of picking small parasites, such as fleas or ticks, from the feathers and feet of larger birds.
Male vampire finches are mostly black in color. Females are gray with streaks of brown. The birds build small nests in bushes or cactuses. The female generally lays three eggs, which hatch in 12 days. In about two weeks, the young are old enough to leave the nest. Vampire finches may live from 5 to 10 years.
