Parrotfinch

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Parrotfinches
Red-throated Parrotfinch.jpg
Red-throated parrotfinch (Erythrura psittacea)
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Erythrura
Swainson, 1837
Type species
Loxia prasina
Pin-tailed parrotfinch
Sparrman, 1788
Species

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.

Taxonomy[]

The genus Erythrura was introduced in 1837 by the English naturalist William John Swainson to accommodate the pin-tailed parrotfinch. Swainson misspelled the genus name as "Erythura".[1][2] The name combines the Ancient Greek eruthros meaning "red" with -ouros meaning "-tailed".[3] The genus Erythrura is sister to the Gouldian finch which is placed in its own genus Chloebia and together the two genera form the subfamily Erythrurinae.[4]

Species[]

The genus contains 12 species.[5]

Image Scientific name Common Name Distribution
Erythrura prasina 228.jpg 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
Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch.JPG Tawny-breasted parrotfinch or green-tailed parrotfinch Erythrura hyperythra Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines
Roodkoppapegaaiamadine.JPG Red-throated parrotfinch Erythrura psittacea New Caledonia
Fijiparrotfinch savusavu jun08.JPG Fiji parrotfinch (split from red-headed parrotfinch) Erythrura pealii Fiji (Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Kadavu)
Royal parrotfinch (split from red-headed parrotfinch) Erythrura regia Vanuatu
Red-headed parrotfinch Erythrura cyaneovirens Samoan Islands
1976.05.02 Pink-billed Parrot-Finch Savura Creek, Fiji 2755.jpg Pink-billed parrotfinch Erythrura kleinschmidti Viti Levu, Fiji
Tricoloured Parrot Finch RWD2.jpg Tricolored parrotfinch or three-coloured parrotfinch Erythrura tricolor Timor and the southern Moluccas
Red-eared parrotfinch or Mount Katanglad parrotfinch Erythrura coloria Mindanao in the Philippines
Papuan parrotfinch Erythrura papuana New Guinea
Blue-faced Parrotfinch (Bird enclosure) 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

References[]

  1. ^ Swainson, William John (1837). On the Natural History and Classification of Birds. Volume 2. London: John Taylor. p. 280. |volume= has extra text (help)
  2. ^ Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1968). Check-List of Birds of the World. Volume 14. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 362. |volume= has extra text (help)
  3. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  4. ^ Olsson, Urban; Alström, Per (2020). "A comprehensive phylogeny and taxonomic evaluation of the waxbills (Aves: Estrildidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 146: 106757. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106757.
  5. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 12 July 2021.

External links[]

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