Alternative name: Red-capped Parrotfinch
- Erythrura cyaneovirens
Identification
10 cm.
- Red forehead, crown and face
- Bluish-green upperparts
- Green upperwing with some blue tinge
- Red rump and uppertail-coverts
- Dull red central tail feathers, other tail feathers brown with red edges
- Deep blue chin, throat and breast, rest of underparts more greenish
- Grey to blue eyering
Female similar but sometimes paler. Juveniles similar to adult but with blue to green face.
Distribution
Endemic to Samoa.
A restricted-range species, widespread but uncommon, generally decreasing.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies recognized:
HBW[3] still includes Fiji Parrotfinch and Royal Parrotfinch in this species.
Habitat
Moist forests, usually closed-canopy or degraded forest. Occurs from sea-level up to mountains.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on wild figs, rice, seeds, insects and spiders. Takes also nectar.
Forages in treetops for fruits and on ground for rice, seeds and insects. Usually singly, in pairs or in family groups.
Breeding
Breeding observed from January to April, in July and August. The nest is elliptical or round with a narrow side entrance made of fibres and stems. It's placed in a tree 3 to 8 m above the ground, often in figs and epiphytes. Lays 3 to 4 eggs.
Movements
No information available.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2015. IOC World Bird Names (version 5.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved July 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Red-headed Parrotfinch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-headed_Parrotfinch
