Crimson finch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Crimson finch
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Fringilla phaeton

The crimson finch (Neochmia phaeton) is a beautiful bird known for its bright red feathers. It belongs to the finch family, called Estrildidae. You can find these birds living in northern Australia and parts of southern New Guinea. Crimson finches are famous for their amazing color and sometimes for being a bit feisty!

What is a Crimson Finch?

The crimson finch was first seen by two scientists, Hombron and Jacquinot, in 1841. They spotted these birds in a place called Raffles Bay in northern Australia. The bird's first scientific name was Fringilla phaeton.

The official common name for this bird is "crimson finch." This name was chosen by the International Ornithologists' Union. Some people also call them "blood finch" or "killer finch." These nicknames come from their tendency to be a bit aggressive, especially towards other red birds.

Family and Relatives

The crimson finch is part of the Estrildidae family. This family includes many small, colorful birds. There are two main types, or subspecies, of crimson finches:

• The black-bellied crimson finch (Neochmia p. phaeton)
• The white-bellied crimson finch (Neochmia p. evangelinae)

The crimson finch is related to the star finch (Neochmia ruficauda). It also looks a lot like birds from the Lagonosticta group, which are called firefinches. Both crimson finches and firefinches often have red heads and bright red feathers.

How to Spot a Crimson Finch

The crimson finch is a small bird. It is usually about 13 centimeters (5 inches) long. It weighs only about 13 grams, which is less than half an ounce!

Its most striking feature is its bright crimson, or deep red, color. It also has a long tail and small white spots along its sides. Around its neck, you might see shades of grey.

Male vs. Female

Male and female crimson finches look a bit different, even though they have similar feathers. This is called sexually dimorphic.

• Females are usually a little paler in color than males.
• Males have longer tails and longer beaks.
• Males are also generally a bit bigger and heavier than females.

Young crimson finches change their feathers to look like adults about three weeks after they leave the nest.

Where Do Crimson Finches Live?

Crimson finches mostly live in northern Australia. You can also find some of them in New Guinea. They are quite common in the Kimberley region of northwest Australia. However, they are less common in the Queensland area in the northeast.

Their Favorite Homes

These birds love places with tall, thick grasses. They often live near wetlands, which are areas with lots of water and plants. They especially like areas with many Pandanus trees.

For building their nests, they use shrubs and dry brush. They often build their nests at the bottom of Pandanus trees. Sometimes, they even make nests inside hollow tree branches.

Crimson Finch Behavior

Crimson finches are well-known for being quite aggressive. This is why they earned nicknames like "blood finch" and "killer finch."

Aggression

Male crimson finches can be aggressive towards other birds. This includes other crimson finches and birds of different species. They don't seem to care about the other bird's age, color, or size. These aggressive actions usually happen one-on-one.

Female crimson finches can also be aggressive. If they are protecting their nest, they might act aggressively towards intruders. However, scientists don't know as much about female aggression.

Family Life

Crimson finches usually mate for life, which is called monogamy. You might find about 4 to 5 breeding pairs in every 100 meters of their habitat.

They don't usually claim a specific territory. In fact, they often build their nests close to other birds' nests. They like to nest in areas near rivers and wetlands.

Unlike some other small birds, crimson finches lay many eggs in one clutch. This might be because many of their nests are found by reptiles, which can eat the eggs.

What They Eat

Crimson finches mainly eat seeds from grasses. One type of grass they like is called Xerochloa imberbis, which is a kind of rice grass. They also enjoy eating insects.

These birds have a good chance of surviving, with 70-96% of them living. They can live for 5 years or even longer!

Crimson Finches and People

Crimson finches are not just wild birds. People can also buy them and keep them as pets. However, they can be quite expensive. A pair of crimson finches might cost between $600 and $800.

The black-bellied crimson finches are known for being a bit harder to care for as pets. Their aggressive behavior can become even stronger when they are kept in a small space. Male crimson finches kept as pets are often more aggressive than those in the wild.

Because of these reasons, crimson finches are not very common in aviculture, which is the hobby of keeping and breeding birds.

Are Crimson Finches Safe?

The IUCN Red List is a list that shows how safe different animal species are. The crimson finch is listed as "least concern." This means that their population is stable, and they are not currently facing any major threats.

However, their homes have faced some challenges. Floods caused by dam building have affected their habitat. But the birds have adapted well to these changes. So far, these issues haven't caused any big problems for their nesting or breeding success.

Gallery

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  Female Crimson Finch

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  Breeding Pair

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  Crimson Finch

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  Crimson Finch