Green-faced parrotfinch | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Estrildidae |
Genus: | Erythrura |
Species: | E. viridifacies |
Binomial name | |
Erythrura viridifacies | |
The green-faced parrotfinch (Erythrura viridifacies) is a rare species of estrildid finch found in northern Philippines, on Luzon, Mindoro, Panay, Negros and Cebu islands. It is an elusive and nomadic bird with mostly green plummage with a bright red vent and tail, rarely seen but large flocks of up to 1,000 birds have been reported feeding on bamboo flowers. Its local name is mayang-kawayan in Tagalog which roughly translates to bamboo sparrow due to its association with bamboo flowering. [2] It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN and is threated by habitat loss, deforestation and the illegal cage bird trade. [3]
The green-faced parrotfinch is approximately 12–13 centimetres (4.7–5.1 in) long. This species green plumage except for its bright red uppertail-coverts and tail and darker fringes to the primaries. It has a long pointed tail. The female is slightly shorter and shows buff on the lower belly and vent. Both sexes have a large, dark bill. The green-faced parrotfinch makes a short, high-pitched tsit tsit, chattering and grating notes.
It is irruptive, visiting flowering bamboos even in the lowlands and eating its seeds. During bamboo blooms, flocks as many as one thousand birds have been observed. It is believed to be nomadic. Otherwise, not much else is known about this bird, where it breeds, and its dispersive qualities and if they travel across islands. [3] It was only discovered on Cebu in 2000 and then in Mindoro in 2013. [4] [5]
In 2024, for multiple weeks, a small group of 8 birds was observed in Rizal picking up snails in streams and dipping them in the water. It is unknown if the parrotfinches used these snails to drink or if they fed on them. [3]
It inhabits tropical moist montane forest, forest edge and even savannah, often above 1,000 meters above sea level, but is occasionally found in the lowlands. It is usually found together with flowering or seeding bamboos, which are its food supply. Its true stronghold, if any, is unknown but most records have been in Luzon. [6]
The IUCN has assessed this species as Vulnerable with the population being estimated at 6,000 to 15,000 mature individuals remaining. This species is threatened by deforestation which removes its food supply (bamboo seeds). The cage-bird trade in the 1930s to the 1980s has also affected its population as large numbers of green-faced parrotfinch in many districts of Manila have been caught and exported to the United States. [5] Despite a large number of birds entering the avicultural scene in the 1980s, no captive breeding has occurred. [7]
This species is currently conserved in two protected areas, the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and Bataan Natural Park/Subic Bay but actual enforcement is lax. Also, due to its nomadic habits, occurrence in protected areas does not necessarily confer continuous protection.
Proposed conservation actions include more fieldwork and observations to properly understand its true range and disperasal habits. Its also proposed that more research be conducted on its diet and ecology of the bamboos it feeds on and that areas that support parrotfinch and its favored bamboo species. [5]
The pin-tailed parrotfinch is a common species of estrildid finch found in Southeast Asia: Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand and China. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 10,000,000 km2.
The blue-faced parrotfinch is a locally common species of estrildid finch found in north-eastern Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Federated States of Micronesia, France (introduced), New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 10,000,000 km2.
The red-eared parrotfinch is a species of estrildid finch endemic to Mindanao in the Philippines. Its known for its striking plummage of a green body, a blue face and the eponymous red-ear. It is found in tropical montane forest above 1,000 meters above sea level.
The Fiji parrotfinch is a species of estrildid finch endemic to Fiji that was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the red-headed parrotfinch. This parrotfinch is a small, mainly green bird with a red head and tail and a stubby dark grey bill. It is found in both forested and open habitats, and has adapted well to man-made environments such as grasslands, pasture and gardens. Pairs have a courtship display in which they fly above the trees in an undulating flight, calling constantly. Breeding birds build a domed grass nest with a side entrance, and lay a clutch normally of four white eggs. Newly hatched chicks are naked and pink, with blue balls at the upper and lower corners of the gape, and black markings inside the mouth; older fledglings resemble the adults, but lack the red head colouring. The Fiji parrotfinch eats seeds, especially of grasses, and also readily feeds on insects and nectar. It forms small flocks of up to six birds after the breeding season.
The royal parrotfinch is a species of estrildid finch endemic to Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean. It is found commonly at mid-altitudes on the larger islands such as Espiritu Santo, above 300 m., but it also can be found at small sea-level islands in fruiting figs in forest edge in Emae and Tongoa. This species is usually found in singles, pairs or small groups feeding on figs in the forest canopy. Clements has lumped this bird into the red-headed parrotfinch.
The pink-billed parrotfinch is a species of estrildid finch found on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji. Commonly found at undisturbed mature forest in the centre and east of Viti Levu, e.g. Joske's Thumb near Suva. This species is found at mid-height along tree-trunks and branches, usually alone or in pairs but also joining mixed-species flocks, feeding primarily on insects, but also on flower buds and fruits.
The blue-crowned racket-tail is a parrot found endemic to the Philippines. It is 27cm, basically green with a blue crown, bluish undertail, whitish beak, and dark underwings with green coverts. It was formerly conspecific with, Mindoro racket-tail and Blue-headed racket-tail
The Mindoro hornbill is a species of hornbill in the family Bucerotidae. It is endemic to forests on Mindoro in the Philippines found in tropical moist lowland forests. As is the case with all five Philippine tarictic hornbills, formerly considered to be just one species. It is the only tarictic hornbill where both sexes are creamy-white and black. The sexes are very similar, differing primarily in the colour of the ocular ring. It is threatened by habitat loss, and is consequently considered endangered by the IUCN.
The rufous coucal is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is found in Luzon and proximate islands in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. Along with the Philippine coucal, Black-faced coucal and the critically endangered Black-hooded coucal, it is one of the 4 endemic coucals.
The montane racket-tail, also known as the Luzon racket-tail, is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It was previously considered conspecific with the Mindanao racket-tail. This bird is endemic to the mountainous regions of northern Luzon, Philippines. It faces threats from habitat loss and the cage bird trade. Under Philippine Law RA 9147, it is illegal to hunt, capture, or possess rufous hornbills.
The handsome sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.
The flaming sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the northern Philippines found on the islands of Luzon and Catanduanes. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was formerly conspecific with the Maroon-naped sunbird.
The blackish cuckooshrike or the blackish cicadabird or Luzon graybird, is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to the Philippines on the islands of Luzon, Catanduanes, Marinduque and Cebu where it is presumed extinct. Some taxonomists place this species in the genus Analisoma.Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest where it is believed to be declining due to habitat loss.
The black-bibbed cicadabird or black-bibbed cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. The species is elusive and poorly known. This species has five subspecies that differ considerably in plummage, it is possible that this may actually be a species complex and consists of multiple species.
The striped flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest. It is part of the Thick-billed flowerpecker species complex and was formerly conspecific with it.
The pygmy flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.
The green-backed whistler or olive-backed whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest.
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.
The Philippine green pigeon is a pigeon in the genus Treron. It is endemic to the Philippines where it lives in the tropical moist lowland forests. It is part of the pompadour green pigeon complex which it was once conspecific with.