Parrotfinch Species

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There are 10-12 species of parrotfinches. The Gouldian Finch (Chloebia gouldiae or Erythrura gouldiae) is also often included in this genus.

In a published study dated 1995, parrotfinches have been classified in two different groups, namely the "Malaysian" and the "Melanesian" parrot finches.

Group 1 - the "Malaysian" parrot finches.

This group includes:

Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch aka Green-tailed Parrotfinch or Bamboo Parrot Finch, Erythrura hyperythra

• Description: Males have a cobalt blue forehead and forecrown. The face, throat, median areas of underparts and under tail coverts are dark reddish buff-brown. The eyes are brown and the beak is back. The legs and feet are flesh colored. The plumage of the female is overall less vivid.
• Range: Common in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines

Pin-tailed Parrotfinch Erythrura prasina (featured above)

• Description: These finches are green with blue heads and two different color phases:
  • A red breast and the less common yellow breast.
• Range: Common in Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Burma, and Thailand and most of Southeast Asia where they are sometimes viewed as a pest due to the damage they do to rice crops.
• Breednig: Females use grass, coconut husks, and moss to build nests high up in the trees to lay 3-6 eggs.

Green-faced Parrotfinch aka Manila Parrot Finch, Erythrura viridifacies

• Found in northern Philippines, around Luzon, Negros and Panay

Group 2 - the "Melanesian" parrotfinches.

This group is sub-divided as shown:

Blue-headed species

Tricolored Parrotfinch or Forbes Parrotfinch, Erythrura tricolor

• Found in Indonesia & Timor-Leste

Papuan Parrotfinch, Erythrura papuana

• Common in Indonesia's Papua province and Papua New Guinea

Red-eared Parrotfinch or Coloria Parrotfinch, Erythrura coloria

• Endemic to Mindanao in the Philippines

Blue-faced Parrotfinch, Erythrura trichroa

• Locally common in north-eastern Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Federated States of Micronesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands & Vanuatu. Introduced into France.

Red-headed species

Red-throated Parrotfinch, Erythrura psittacea

• Found in New Caledonia

Samoa Parrotfich or Pink-billed Parrotfinch aka Red-Headed Parrot Finch, Red-Headed Parrot-Finch, Red-Headed Parrotfinch, Erythrura cyaneovirens cyaneovirens. (nominate species)

• Found in island of Viti Levu, Fiji.

Royal Parrotfinch, Erythrura cyaneovirens regia

• Endemic to Vanuatu.

Seed-eating Royal Parrotfinch aka Red-headed Parrotfinch, Erythrura cyaneovirens serena

• Description: Red head; the back and abdomen are green.
• Range: Aneitemn Island, New Hebrides

Red-headed Parrotfinch (no other name known), Erythrura cyaneovirens efatensis

• Found in New Caledonia, Samoan Islands and common on Efate, also known as Île Vate - an island in the Republic of Vanuatu (Shefa Province)
  

Red-headed Parrotfinch, Erythrura cyaneovirens gaughrani

• Endemic to Western Samoa

Peale Parrot Finch or Fiji Parrotfinch, Erythrura cyaneovirens peali

• Common in Fiji (featured below)

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