Papuan Parrot Finch

PAPUAN PARROT FINCH
ERYTHRURA PAPUANA

Older imported female © G. Oppenborn
Now it seems that this bird is NOT a Papuan parrot finch!

Research by Dr.C. Mettke-Hofman & G. Hofmann, Germany have proven that all known existing birds in Europe are not Papuan parrot finches, but rather a subspecies of the Blue-faced parrot finch. (Erythrura trichroa)
The exact subspecies is not known.

The only Papuan parrot finch that ever arrived in Europe is the already dead bird in the picture by R. Neff below.

© G. Hofmann

CLASSIFICATION
There are no known sub species of this parrot finch which is very similar to the blue-faced parrot finch.

In earlier days the papuan parrot finch was considered as a sub species of the blue-faced parrot finch, but nowadays he is recognized as a separate species.

NATIVE HABITAT
They live only in the mountainous parts of New Guinea, where they can be found on the edges of the forests. Very little is known about their behaviour.

DESCRIPTION
This parrot finch is considered to be the largest of all parrot finches. He is as much as 2 cm larger than the blue-faced. He has a remarkably large black beak and large eyes with a yellow iris ring.
The blue on the male's head is more extensive than the blue-faced parrot finch. The blue reaches behind the eyes and under the beak. The green is duller.
Adult females are duller and have less blue on the head.

This picture shows an imported "so called" Papuan parrot finch on the left.
On the right we have a "true" Papuan parrot finch.
Take notice of the more estensive blue area on the head and the bigger beak.

AVICULTURAL NOTES
Some years ago a number of "so called" Papuan parrot finches arrived in Europe.
These finches successfully raised young for the first time in 1966.
90% of their diet consists of seeds of all kinds in germinated form and they used half-open nestboxes.

Due to the fact real Papuan parrot fiches are unknown in our aviaries nothing is known about them.

MUTATIONS
No mutations are known.

ATTENTION
Recent studies have proved no Papuan parrot finches are currently available in Europe.
All offered birds are subspecies of the Blue-faced parrot finch.