Which group of birds was studied by Darwin on the Galapagos Islands and helped illustrate evolution?

• A. Penguins
• B. Hawks
• C. Finches
• D. Doves

Answer: (C)

Darwin’s Galapagos finches illustrate evolution by natural selection and adaptive radiation. On the islands, these finches faced different food sources, so beak shape and size varied among populations. Individuals with beak traits better suited to the available food tended to survive and reproduce, passing those traits on. Over many generations, this led to the emergence of multiple distinct species, each adapted to a specific feeding niche. The other birds listed don’t show this same island-specific pattern of diversification tied to feeding strategies and speciation that Darwin described, making finches the classic example of how evolution can shape species to fit their environments.