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

© W. Stegner

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.