Parrotfinch

Parrotfinches are small, colourful passerine birds belonging to the genus Erythrura in the family Estrildidae, the estrildid finches. They occur from South-east Asia to New Guinea, and many Pacific Islands. They inhabit forest, bamboo thickets and grassland and some can be found in man-made habitats such as farmland, parks and gardens. Several species are commonly kept as cagebirds.

Parrotfinches
Red-throated parrotfinch (Erythrura psittacea)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Erythrura
Swainson, 1837
Species

About 12, see text

They are 9 to 15 cm long. The plumage is usually mainly green. Most species have blue or red markings on the head and a red rump and tail. The tail is pointed and often fairly long.

Seeds, especially those of grasses, comprise the bulk of the diet. Some parrotfinches also feed on fruit and small insects. Many species forage in flocks, keeping in contact with high-pitched calls.

Three species, the green-faced, royal and pink-billed parrotfinches, are classed as vulnerable to extinction because of habitat loss and degradation.

Species list

There are 10-13 species of parrotfinch.

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Tawny-breasted parrotfinch or green-tailed parrotfinchErythrura hyperythraIndonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Pin-tailed parrotfinchErythrura prasinaMalaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand and China
Green-faced parrotfinchErythrura viridifaciesnorthern Philippines, around Luzon, Negros and Panay
Tricolored parrotfinch or three-coloured parrotfinchErythrura tricolorTimor and the southern Moluccas.
Blue-faced parrotfinchErythrura trichroanorth-eastern Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Federated States of Micronesia, France (introduced), New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
Red-eared parrotfinch or Mount Katanglad parrotfinchErythrura coloriaMindanao in the Philippines.
Papuan parrotfinchErythrura papuanaNew Guinea
Red-throated parrotfinchErythrura psittaceaNew Caledonia.
Red-headed parrotfinchErythrura cyaneovirensSamoan Islands
Fiji parrotfinchErythrura pealiiFiji (Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Kadavu)
Royal parrotfinchErythrura regiaVanuatu
Pink-billed parrotfinchErythrura kleinschmidtiViti Levu, Fiji

References

  • Clement, Peter; Harris, Alan & Davies, John (1993) Finches and Sparrows: An Identification Guide, Christopher Helm, London.
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