Samoa 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.

SAMOA PARROT FINCH
ERYTHRURA CYANEOVIRENS CYANEOVIRENS

© G.Hofmann

CLASSIFICATION
The Samoa parrot finch is the first of the short-tailed family, now called the red-headed species.

NATIVE HABITAT
They are found on only two Samoan islands, Upolu and Savaii, where they can be seen in small groups of 30 to 50 birds as they search for food. They have adapted very well as their environment has changed so they really should no longer be referred to as fig eaters.

Male © R.Neff

DESCRIPTION
Samoa parrot finches have a red head, a blue back and chest which gradually merges to green.

Female © R.Neff

They have a close resemblance to the Royal Parrot Finch, but the Samoa has a greener back and the blue coloration is paler. The Royal has a stronger beak.

In the female the colours are duller but the males have a clear change to the head colour on the back of the neck.

They are also bigger than the Peale’s Parrot Finch. The picture below clearly shows two males, on the left a male Peale’s and on the right a male Samoa.

There are also distinct differences between the birds from the two islands. The birds from Savaii, for instance, have more green than those from Upolu, which are often badly coloured.

AVICULTURAL NOTES
Successful breeding results are being obtained in well-planted aviaries. In view of the fact that these birds become fat very quickly, it is essential to keep them in an aviary and to banish cages completely.

They need eggfood, spray millet, germinated grain, grass seeds and fresh green food and live food.

They build a large nest and lay 3 to 4 eggs, which will be incubated for 14 days. After 6 weeks the young are independent so they can be removed from the parents.

At this time, young males can already be recognized by their red head colour and the red spots on the cheeks. Young females only have a little bit of red above the beak.

They only attain full colour between the ages of 9 to 12 months and are often seen with young of their own while still showing partial juvenile plumage. They will normally raise 2 to 3 clutches in succession, after which a rest period must follow.

MUTATIONS
No mutations are known.