| 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 | |
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.
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.
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
) | Tawny-breasted parrotfinch or green-tailed parrotfinch | Erythrura hyperythra | Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. |
) | Pin-tailed parrotfinch | Erythrura prasina | Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand and China |
| Green-faced parrotfinch | Erythrura viridifacies | northern Philippines, around Luzon, Negros and Panay | |
) | Tricolored parrotfinch or three-coloured parrotfinch | Erythrura tricolor | Timor and the southern Moluccas. |
_Wildlife_Habitat_Port_Douglas,_Queensland_(31779741700).jpg')) | Blue-faced parrotfinch | Erythrura trichroa | north-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 parrotfinch | Erythrura coloria | Mindanao in the Philippines. | |
| Papuan parrotfinch | Erythrura papuana | New Guinea | |
) | Red-throated parrotfinch | Erythrura psittacea | New Caledonia. |
| Red-headed parrotfinch | Erythrura cyaneovirens | Samoan Islands | |
) | Fiji parrotfinch | Erythrura pealii | Fiji (Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Kadavu) |
| Royal parrotfinch | Erythrura regia | Vanuatu | |
) | Pink-billed parrotfinch | Erythrura kleinschmidti | Viti Levu, Fiji |
References
- Clement, Peter; Harris, Alan & Davies, John (1993) Finches and Sparrows: An Identification Guide, Christopher Helm, London.
External links
Media related to Erythrura at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Erythrura at Wikispecies
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