Skip to main content
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Español
  • Site Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • Classroom Resources
  • Teaching Tools
  • Professional Development
  • Partner Content

The Origin of Species: The Beak of the Finch

Topic

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
  • Speciation

Resource Type

  • Videos
  • Short Films

Level

Middle/Junior HighHigh School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege

Duration

00:15:54
Saved By
83 Users
Share This
View in Spanish

Description

This film explores four decades of research on the evolution of Galápagos finches, which has illuminated how species form and diversify.

Evolutionary biologists Rosemary and Peter Grant spent four decades tracking changes in body traits directly tied to survival in the famous Galápagos finches. They also identified behavioral characteristics that prevent different species from breeding with one another. Their pioneering studies documented natural selection in real time and revealed clues about how 13 distinct finch species arose from a single ancestral population that migrated from the mainland 2 million to 3 million years ago.

The “Abbreviated Film Guide” provides a short summary of the film, along with key concepts and connections to curriculum standards.

An audio descriptive version of the film is available via our media player.

Key Terms

adaptation, ecological niche, speciation, trait

Primary Literature

Grant, Peter R., and B. Rosemary Grant. How and Why Species Multiply. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2008. 

Weiner, Jonathan. The Beak of the Finch. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1994. 

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria. Video files meet criteria. Spanish files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 11.12.13
Date Updated 11.26.19

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS2.A, HS-LS3.B, HS-LS4.B, HS-LS4.C

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1, EVO-3, SYI-2, SYI-3

IB Biology (2016)

5.1, 5.4, C.1

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.6, 2.7

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.2

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC5

Materials

Download HD (M4V) 609 MB
Download HD (WMV) 493 MB
Download SD (M4V) 200 MB
Download SD (WMV) 126 MB
Download Transcript (PDF) 331 KB
Download Abbreviated Film Guide (PDF) 159 KB
Download Spanish Dub (MP4) 257 MB
Download Transcript - Español (PDF) 238 KB
Download Abbreviated Film Guide - Español (PDF) 240 KB

Use This Resource With

Activity Resource
Activity for The Beak of the Finch
Activity Resource
Natural Selection and the Evolution of Darwin’s Finches
Activity Resource
Beaks As Tools: Selective Advantage in Changing Environments
Interactive Media Resource
Interactive Assessment for The Beak of the Finch

Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.
Educator standing in front of a photograph of a bird.
/
1-Minute Tips

The Beak of the Finch

Samantha Johnson describes how she uses the short film "The Origin of Species: The Beak of the Finch" to demonstrate to her students how quickly selective pressure can affect a population, as well as to show that not all science is done indoors.
Educator in front of an image of a bird
/
1-Minute Tips

Beaks as Tools

Jason Crean describes how he uses BioInteractive's "Beaks as Tools" activity to supplement understanding of Rosemary and Peter Grant's research on the evolution of the Galápagos finches.
View Article
Educator in front of an image of a bird
/
1-Minute Tips

Sorting Finch Species

Cindy Gay describes using two BioInteractive resources to teach her students about evolution. She first shows them the short film "The Beak of the Finch," which describes research by biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant on the Galápagos finches.
View Article
Close Modal

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Birds

Showing of
Photo of a hawk from the video
Film Activities
Activity for The Origin of Birds
Photo of a bird fossil from the activity
Lessons
Living Dinosaurs: Fact or Fiction?
Graph from the activity
Data Points
Effects of Natural Selection on Finch Beak Size
Picture of a bird in flight
Scientists at Work
The Origin of Flight: What Use Is Half a Wing?
Image of a chicken skeleton from the interactive
Click & Learn
Comparative Anatomy of the Domestic Chicken
Image of a bird from the film
Short Films
Great Transitions: The Origin of Birds
Image from the activity
Data Points
Thermoregulation in Dinosaurs
Image from the interactive showing outlines of two elephants.
Click & Learn
How Animals Use Sound to Communicate
Montage of finch pictures from the interactive
Click & Learn
Sorting Finch Species
Image from the activity
Lessons
Evolution in Action: Data Analysis
Photo of a finch's head and beak
Labs & Demos
Beaks As Tools: Selective Advantage in Changing Environments
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for The Beak of the Finch
Screen shot of quiz screen
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for The Origin of Birds
Photo of a finch
Card Activities
How Can We Explain Evolutionary Relationships among Species?
Image of a beak of a finch
Film Activities
Activity for The Beak of the Finch
A montage of images from the activity
Lessons
How Did Dinosaurs Regulate Their Body Temperatures?

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Computer illustration of anoles from the video
Animations
Reproductive Isolation and Speciation in Lizards
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for The Beak of the Finch
Image of a beak of a finch
Film Activities
Activity for The Beak of the Finch
Montage of finch pictures from the interactive
Click & Learn
Sorting Finch Species
Image of an anole from the film.
Short Films
The Origin of Species: Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree
Image of a researcher holding a lizard
Film Activities
Activity for Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree
Image of an anole from the activity
Phenomenal Images
The Lone Anole
Graph from the activity
Data Points
Effects of Natural Selection on Finch Beak Size
Photo of a finch's head and beak
Labs & Demos
Beaks As Tools: Selective Advantage in Changing Environments
Photo of a finch
Card Activities
How Can We Explain Evolutionary Relationships among Species?
HHMI BioInteractive
  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Our Advisors
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility