DiscoverThe John Batchelor Show2: 3. Darwin's Finches, Evolution, and Avian Intelligence AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This excerpt addresses the myth that Darwin immediately understood evolution from the Galapagos Finches; he actually focused on pigeons
2: 3. Darwin's Finches, Evolution, and Avian Intelligence AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This excerpt addresses the myth that Darwin immediately understood evolution from the Galapagos Finches; he actually focused on pigeons

2: 3. Darwin's Finches, Evolution, and Avian Intelligence AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This excerpt addresses the myth that Darwin immediately understood evolution from the Galapagos Finches; he actually focused on pigeons

Update: 2025-10-13
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3. Darwin's Finches, Evolution, and Avian Intelligence



AUTHOR: Stephen Moss



BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World



This excerpt addresses the myth that Darwin immediately understood evolution from the Galapagos Finches; he actually focused on pigeons in The Origin of Species. The finches were only named in his honor about 100 years after his birth. It highlights the work of Peter and Rosemary Grant, who demonstrated that birds can evolve very quickly (in a couple of years) when conditions, such as El Niño, change dramatically. The discussion concludes by noting that all birds, including the Australian Magpie, exhibit high levels of intelligence.






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2: 3. Darwin's Finches, Evolution, and Avian Intelligence AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This excerpt addresses the myth that Darwin immediately understood evolution from the Galapagos Finches; he actually focused on pigeons

2: 3. Darwin's Finches, Evolution, and Avian Intelligence AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This excerpt addresses the myth that Darwin immediately understood evolution from the Galapagos Finches; he actually focused on pigeons

John Batchelor