Red-eared parrotfinch | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Estrildidae |
Genus: | Erythrura |
Species: | E. coloria |
Binomial name | |
Erythrura coloria | |
The red-eared parrotfinch (Erythrura coloria) is a species of estrildid finch endemic to Mindanao in the Philippines. It's known for its striking plumage 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.
EBird describes the bird as "A small bird of montane forest and scrub on Mindanao. Usually forages on the ground for seeds. Overall green with a bright red rump and uppertail and a blue face with a prominent red crescent curving around from behind the eye to the side of the throat. Note the pale legs and the thick black bill. Female is similar to the male, but with less blue and red on the head. Voice includes a short, high-pitched tinkling trill." [2]
The red-eared parrotfinch is probably present on every mountain in central Mindanao. It is a very unobtrusive and secretive bird. And its high-pitched call is easily overlooked. Its voice, however, is not uncommon at Kitanglad.
Unlike the green-faced parrotfinch (E. viridifacies), it does not appear to be strongly dependent on bamboo, and is therefore less irruptive, unpredictable and vulnerable than that species. [3] Diet consists of seeds of grasses, thistles, opium and flax. Also feeds on fruits and small insects. This species has recorded feeding on the non-native coffee berries. Forages low and close to the ground. Forages alone or in small groups.
Not much published data on wild breeding behaviour. Breeding season is believed to be from January to April. Nest is made of mosses. Based on birds in captivity, clutch size is 1 to 3 eggs and takes 14 days to incubate, nestling period is 21 to 23 days and an additional feeding period of 14 days. Adult plummages is reached in 3 to 4 months. [4]
The species inhabits forest understorey and edge, second growth and grassy clearings at altitude over 1,000m. The IUCN has classified as Least Concern but was formerly listed as near threatened. Despite its limited range, it is said to be locally common. As it occurs in rugged and inaccessible mountains, this has allowed a large portion of its habitat to remain intact. However, there it is still affected by habitat loss through deforestation, mining, land conversion and slash-and-burn - just not to the same extent as lowland forest. [5]
This species is kept in captivity and bred for aviculture. [4]
The green-faced parrotfinch 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. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN and is threatened by habitat loss, deforestation and the illegal cage bird trade.
The white-cheeked bullfinch is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in mountain regions of the Philippines on the islands of Luzon and Mindanao. It has also been reported on the island of Panay. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forests above 1,250 meters above sea level. It is the only bullfinch found in the Philippines.
The Philippine megapode, also known as the Philippine scrubfowl or the Tabon scrubfowl, is a species of bird in the family Megapodiidae. It is found in the Philippines, northeastern Borneo, and Sulawesi. It has a wide range of natural habitats which include tropical dry forest, tropical moist lowland forest, tropical moist montane forest and small islands. The species was named after the collector Hugh Cuming.
The white-eared tailorbird is a species of bird formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, it but now placed in the family Cisticolidae.It is found in the Philippine islands of Basilan and West Mindanao.
The Philippine leaf warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the family Phylloscopidae. It is endemic to the Philippines on the islands Bohol, Samar, Leyte, Negros, Mindanao, Basilan and the Sulu Archipelago.
The writhed hornbill, also known as the Mindanao wrinkled hornbill, is a species of hornbill in the family Bucerotidae. It is endemic to primarily lowland forests on the Philippine islands of Mindanao, Dinagat and Camiguin Sur. It formerly included the Walden's hornbill as a subspecies, but unlike that species, both sexes of the writhed hornbill have orange-red throat and peri-ocular skin. The writhed hornbill is threatened by habitat loss and hunting.
The black-faced coucal is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found in the islands of Mindanao, Basilan Dinagat Islands Bohol, Leyte, Biliran and Samar. It is a striking coucal with its cream head contrasted with a black mask and tail and chestnut wings. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest.
The Mindanao racket-tail is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to Mindanao in the Philippines. It was previously conspecific with the Luzon Racket-tail. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate waterstradti in the south-east, and malindangensis in the west. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forests. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss and trapping for the pet trade.
The white-eared brown dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Philippines, and is most commonly found in lowland and montane forests.
The blue-capped kingfisher, also known as Hombron's kingfisher, is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae endemic to the Philippines and found only on Mindanao. It is one of the most colorful kingfishers in the country having a dark blue cap and wings with rufous spots, a striped rufous belly, white chin and red bill. Its natural habitats are on the upper ranges of tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Apo sunbird is a species of bird in the sunbird family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.It is found in tropical moist montane forests above 1,500 meters above sea level.
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 whiskered flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss.
The azure-breasted pitta is a species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is a striking and colorful bird having colors of red, azure, green, black and white, It is endemic to the islands of Mindanao, Bohol, Leyte and Samar in the Philippines. Along with the Whiskered pitta, it is one of two endemic pittas in the country. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The slaty-backed jungle flycatcher, also known as the Goodfellow's jungle flycatcher or the Mindanao jungle flycatcher is a species of bird in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only on the island of Mindanao. The specific epithet honours the British zoological collector Walter Goodfellow. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss
The Mindanao blue fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae. It is one of 47 species in the genus Rhipidura. It is endemic to the Philippines found only on the island of Mindanao and Basilan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was previously conspecific with the Visayan blue fantail.
The orange-tufted spiderhunter is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only on Mindanao and Eastern Visayas. It was originally considered a subspecies of the little spiderhunter.
The Visayan blue fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae. It is endemic to the Philippines on the islands of Bohol, Leyte and Samar. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was previously conspecific with the Mindanao blue fantail.
The Visayan fantail is a fantail endemic to the Philippines on islands of Negros, Panay, Guimaras, Masbate and Ticao. Until recently, it was considered conspecific with the blue-headed fantail and Tablas fantail.
The Mindanao serin is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.