Pink-billed parrotfinch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pink-billed parrotfinch |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Estrildidae |
| Genus: | Erythrura |
| Species: |
E. kleinschmidti
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| Binomial name | |
| Erythrura kleinschmidti (Finsch, 1878)
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Resident year-round
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The pink-billed parrotfinch (Erythrura kleinschmidti) is a special type of finch found only on Viti Levu island in Fiji. This bird lives in old, untouched forests in the middle and eastern parts of Viti Levu. You might spot it near places like Joske's Thumb close to Suva. These finches usually stay on tree trunks and branches. They often fly alone or in pairs. Sometimes, they join groups of different bird species. They mostly eat insects, but also enjoy flower buds and fruits.
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What is a Parrotfinch?
Parrotfinches are a group of small birds found in Southeast Asia and Australia. They have short, round wings and tails. Most of them have green bodies. Almost all parrotfinches have a red tail. This red tail gives them their scientific name, Erythrura. This name comes from ancient Greek words meaning 'red' and 'tail'.
How the Pink-Billed Parrotfinch Got Its Name
A German scientist named Otto Finsch first described the pink-billed parrotfinch in 1878. He called it Amblynura kleinschmidti back then. The second part of its name, kleinschmidti, honors Theodor Kleinschmidt. He was a German explorer and collector. Theodor Kleinschmidt discovered this bird on Viti Levu in 1877.
What Does the Pink-Billed Parrotfinch Look Like?
This parrotfinch is quite large and strong. It is about 11 centimetres (4.3 in) long. It has a long, pale pink beak. This beak is much bigger than those of other parrotfinches. Adult birds are mostly olive-green. They have a black face and a blue top of the head and neck. Their bright red rump is typical for this type of bird. Their eyes are brown or reddish-brown. Their legs and feet are pink or brownish-pink. Male and female birds look the same. Young birds look like adults but are a bit duller. Their beaks are pale orange with a dark tip.
What Sounds Do They Make?
The pink-billed parrotfinch makes a high-pitched call. It sounds like tsee tsee or cheee cheee cheee. You might also hear a series of clicks.
How is it Different from the Fiji Parrotfinch?
Another bird, the Fiji parrotfinch (E. pealii), also lives on Viti Levu. This bird is common in the area. It is smaller than the pink-billed parrotfinch. Adult Fiji parrotfinches have a red head. Their beak is much smaller and dark. Young Fiji parrotfinches have a pale beak. They are also brighter green than their larger cousin.
Where Do Pink-Billed Parrotfinches Live?
The pink-billed parrotfinch lives only in Fiji. It is mainly found in the wetter central and eastern parts of Viti Levu. However, in 2012, some were also seen on the Yasawa Islands to the north-west. This bird prefers old, undisturbed forests at any height. It has been found to be common in one area of newer forest. Sadly, it has disappeared from some places where it used to live. We don't know why this happened.
How Do Pink-Billed Parrotfinches Behave?
This bird is usually seen alone or in pairs. Sometimes, small family groups are spotted. It is not as social as other parrotfinches. It usually stays in one place. But outside of breeding season, it might join groups of different birds looking for food.
Nesting Habits
Only one nest of this bird has ever been found. It was shaped like a dome with an entrance on the side. It was similar to the nests of Fiji parrotfinches. The nest was built from dead leaves, including bamboo leaves. It also used small twigs and lichens.
What Do They Eat?
This finch mostly eats insects. It looks for food on tree trunks and vines. It uses its large beak to open hidden spots. It also pokes into dead leaves and crushes twigs. It can even strip bark to find scale insects. They also eat flower buds, berries, and fruit. People once thought they only ate figs, but that's not true. While they mostly feed in trees, they will also look for food on the ground.
Who Hunts the Pink-Billed Parrotfinch?
The Fiji goshawk is a common bird of prey in Fiji. It specializes in hunting small and medium-sized birds. The swamp harrier also hunts these birds. It often catches young birds that have just left the nest. The local type of peregrine falcon also hunts finches. However, this falcon is rare and its numbers are decreasing. Barn owls mainly eat rats, but they sometimes catch small birds too. Rats and mice use Fiji parrotfinch nests. They might also eat the eggs or young of these birds. The fan-tailed cuckoo is a bird that lays its eggs in other birds' nests. But the pink-billed parrotfinch does not seem to be a host for this cuckoo.
Health Concerns for Parrotfinches
No specific diseases have been recorded for the pink-billed parrotfinch. However, other parrotfinch species kept in zoos have had certain illnesses. These include microsporidiosis and avian malaria. Both are spread by tiny parasites.
What is the Conservation Status of the Pink-Billed Parrotfinch?
The pink-billed parrotfinch is thought to live only on Viti Levu island. It prefers the wetter central and eastern areas. But in 2012, it was also seen on the Yasawa Islands. This shows its living area might be growing. It is found in many mature forests. However, it seems to have always been a rare bird.
How Many Pink-Billed Parrotfinches Are There?
A study of their main living areas found birds at 8 out of 13 sites. Based on limited information, there were about 2.8 birds per square kilometer. If there are 4,000 square kilometers of suitable forest, the total population could be between 2,500 and 10,000 birds.
Why Are Their Numbers Declining?
Animals like the mongoose were brought to Fiji. They have caused other ground-living birds to decline. But the rarity of the pink-billed parrotfinch isn't directly blamed on these animals. The small population is believed to be shrinking. This is because forests are still being cut down. Half of the island's old forests have already been cleared. This land is used for farming or planting trees like mahogany. A great habitat called Joske's Thumb was lost in the 1980s. Because of its small population on one island and the ongoing loss of its home, this species is listed as vulnerable. This means it is at risk of extinction.
How Are They Being Protected?
The pink-billed parrotfinch is protected under Fiji's Endangered and Protected Species Act 2002. This law controls the import and trade of species that are threatened. It is also being protected in the watershed forest near Suva. There are plans to find more suitable areas to protect this bird. They also want to keep the watershed forest habitat near Suva safe.
 | James Van Der Zee |
 | Alma Thomas |
 | Ellis Wilson |
 | Margaret Taylor-Burroughs |
