Pink-Billed Parrot Finch

PINK-BILLED PARROT FINCH
ERYTHRURA KLEINSCHMIDTI

© Bill & Ruth Beckon

CLASSIFICATION
This bird is considered as a separate species.

NATIVE HABITAT
They live only in the dense forests on the island Veti-Levu (Fiji).
Due to their natural shyness and their presence depending of the existence of some fruits, namely wild figs, very little is known about their way of living.

The question can be asked if they are already under threat as their numbers are limited.

DESCRIPTION
Males and females are alike.With their size of 10 cm they have a remarkable pale 1.5 cm beak.
The head color is black changing to blue. At the bottom of the beak the black is replaced by yellow-green as far as the ear. The back is green, the upper tail coverts are red and the tail is brown. They have pale beak and feet and dark eyes.

AVICULTURAL NOTES
In 1913 a number of Pink-billed parrot finches arrived in Europe.
It is not known if breeding success was achieved.
It is generally accepted nowadays there are no Pink-billed parrot finches in Europe.

MUTATIONS
No mutations are known.