Greater Antillean Bullfinch

The Greater Antillean bullfinch is 13.2 to 17.5 cm (5.2 to 6.9 in) long and weighs 18 to 32.4 g (0.63 to 1.1 oz). The species is sexually dimorphic though not dramatically so. Adult males of the nominate M. v. violacea are black except for a short red-orange supercilium and red-orange throat and undertail coverts. Adult females are a duller, more slaty black than males, especially on their upperparts. The other subspecies of the Greater Antillean bullfinch differ little from the nominate. M. v. affinis is smaller and glossier and M. v. maurella is larger than affinis and glossier than the nominate. Subspecies M. v. ruficollis differs the most; it is larger, grayer, and duller than the nominate with a paler supercilium and throat. M. v. ofella is the smallest subspecies but otherwise like the nominate. M. v. parishi is described as smaller than the nominate "but this is not confirmed by any measurements of topotypes". Both sexes of all subspecies have a dark iris, a short, thick dark gray bill, and dusky legs and feet.

Even when they agree on the subspecies of the Greater Antillean bullfinch, sources differ on some of their ranges:

M. v. violacea: when ofella is treated separately, the northern and central Bahamas; when ofella is included, the Bahamas and Caicos Islands M. v. ofella: central and eastern Caicos Islands in the southern Bahamas M. v. maurella: Tortue; Tortue and Gonâve Islands of Haiti and Saona Island of the Dominican Republic M. v. affinis: with parishi, Hispaniola and small islands off its south coast; without parishi, Hispaniola and Catalina Island of the Dominican Republic M. v. parishi: Île-à-Vache of Haiti and Beata Island of the Dominican Republic M. v. ruficollis: Jamaica The Greater Antillean bullfinch inhabits "[d]ense thickets and undergrowth at all elevations from dry coastal scrub to wet mountain forests, including gardens". Other sources say its elevational ceiling is 2,000 m (6,600 ft).

The Greater Antillean bullfinch feeds primarily on fruits and seeds but also includes flowers and snails in its diet. It usually feeds in dense vegetation and probably on or near the ground.