Royal Parrot Finch

SHORT TAILED PARROT FINCH
ERYTHRURA CYANEOVIRENS

There are six different sub species under the name "Short tailed parrot finch" of wich the Samoa is the first.

In recent times increasingly the name "Short tailed" is being replaced by "Red-headed".

This new name must not be confused with the well-known "red headed parrot finch".

It was intented to put these birds under a new and more recent classification. Their red head colour is also a typical characteristic of the former "short tailed" family.

ROYAL PARROT FINCH
ERYTHRURA CYANEOVIRENS REGIA

I have observed RPF's feeding high up in fig trees (small fruited approx.10mm dia) hanging, sometimes upside down, near or at the ends of the branches while picking at the fruit. This particular tree had 5-6 birds in it and they resembled miniature parrots as they went about feeding.

Considering that the RPF was not described until 1848, some 60 years after the first described species, the Pintailed PF in 1788 this behaviour was probably not a contributing factor in naming this genus Parrot Finches. Pintails must have reminded someone early in the piece of small parrots, probably their colorful plumage.

RPF's have a very curved culmen ridge but I have observed this being variable amongst individual birds, some being quite straight and others being quite curved, again suggesting a slight resemblance to parrots.

Another variable is the plumage, the amounts of green and blue, some being almost all blue in the body, wings and abdomen and others having green wings, back and lower abdomen. Brightness of the head coloration does not necessarily go with any type of body color and some birds have a speckled head with either dull feathers or brightly colored ones.
I believe that both sexes go through a series of color changes before adult colors are obtained, how long this takes I don't know.

The nest I saw (not in use) was built of grasses, leaves and various tendril like plants, about half the size of a soccer ball about 12 metres above the ground.
Apparently, juveniles have dull blue heads and a dull greyish-green bodies, but I have not seen juveniles in the wild or otherwise.
RPF's are definitely one of the most spectacularly colored finches there is and I rate them highly amongst my favourite birds.

Phil Bender

Thanks to Phil Bender for his exclusive photos and explanation.
- ERYTHRURA -

CLASSIFICATION
The Royal parrot finch belongs to the group of the Short-tailed parrot finches.

NATIVE HABITAT
They only live on the edges of forests and grasslands of the New Hybrids. They are very shy and in moments of danger they fly immediately into the shrubs or in the trees.

Breeding season starts in September with the building of a big nest of grasses high in the trees.

Clutches of 3-4 eggs are incubated for 14 days. Two nests during a season is normal.

They eat mainly all kinds of fruits, especially figs. On the picture below you can see a normal and a cut wild fig.

DESCRIPTION
Lenght: 11 cm.
They have a remarkable red head and upper tail coverts. Their back is cobalt blue, changing into green as far as to the wings. The sides and breast as far as to the abdomen are blue.

The female is identical to the male but she's a little duller in the neck and the breast.

AVICULTURAL NOTES
Royal Parrot finches have already succesfully bred and raised their babies. The incubation period and the independence age of the youngsters is identical to the other members of the short tailed family.
Although it seems that young birds only obtain their full colour at 20 months old.

As far as known, they are breeding in big aviaries and figs are absolutely necessary.

MUTATIONS
No mutations are known.

Beside these Short-tailed parrot finches, there are still three others that exist.
These birds are not known in Europe and their mutual differences are small.

ERYTHRURA CYANEOVIRENS EFATENSIS
Has a green back and a dark red head.

ERYTHRURA CYANEOVIRENS SERENA
Has a green back and abdomen.
Sometimes this species is called the Sead-eating royal parrot finch.

ERYTHRURA CYANEOVIRENS GAUGHRANI
Has a duller blue neck.