Blue-faced Parrotfinch

Overview

The blue-faced parrotfinch (Erythrura trichroa) is a locally common species of estrildid finch found across north-eastern Australia, eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and various Pacific islands. Its global extent of occurrence is estimated at 10,000,000 km², and it is currently classified as being of least concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Males are multi-shaded with colours ranging from light yellow-green to dark blue-green, featuring deep blue feathers on the forehead and face and red to rusty red-brown tails.
• Females exhibit a less vibrant blue colouration, are slightly smaller than males, and possess a more rounded head.
• The species is typically 13 cm (5.1 in) in length, with historical records indicating wingspans of 62 mm and tails of 50 mm.
• Behaviour is inconspicuous and timid, with the birds often retreating to grasslands for cover when observed.

Habitat

This species inhabits subtropical and tropical zones in both montane and lowland moist forests, with a strong association for forest edges and disturbed habitats. It prefers rainforest edges and dense grasslands containing woody plants, while roosting in rainforests, and is found at altitudes ranging from sea level to 3,000 m in New Guinea.

Diet

The blue-faced parrotfinch feeds on seeds of grasses, bamboo seeds, small insects, and figs, with a preference for Brachiaria decumbens (Signal Grass) and Lantana camara. Foraging is conducted primarily by perching at an average height of 0.96 m, with occasional climbing and pecking, allowing it to partition resources from other species that tend to climb more frequently.

Did you know?

Despite being one of the 12 species in the genus Erythrura, this bird was historically overlooked and categorized as rare due to its inconspicuous nature and the limitations of past observation techniques, leading to its first record in North Queensland only in 1890.