Black-faced Grassquit (Melanospiza bicolor)

The name "Grassquit" means "grass bird", the "quit" element from Jamaican for bird. The race found in the Lesser Antilles is the smaller "M. b. omissa." Formerly included with other grassquits in the genus "Tiaris" but genetic studies found this species is sister to the St. Lucia Black Finch. Both have been linked to "Darwin's Finches" of the Galapagos, but that relationship is only weakly supported. Like many neotropical "finches" this one has been moved from the Sparrow family (Emberizidae) to the Tanager family (Thraupidae). This is a male with a mostly black face. The amount of black varies with geography and age; the older males having more extensive black often including the entire underparts.