Green-faced Parrotfinch
Erythrura viridifacies
A small bird of montane forest and scrub. Feeds on seeding bamboo. Green above with bright red rump and uppertail, pale blue underparts, and a whitish lower belly. Note the pinkish legs and thick black bill. Female is similar to the male but slightly duller. The only bird of a similar size and color in its range is Philippine Hanging-Parrot, which has a hooked red bill. Gives quiet “chink” calls.
Identification
The green-faced parrotfinch is approximately 12–13 cm long. This species green plumage except for its bright red uppertail-coverts and tail and darker fringes to the primaries. It has a long pointed tail. The female is slightly shorter and shows buff on the lower belly and vent. Both sexes have a large, dark bill. The green-faced parrotfinch makes a short, high-pitched tsit tsit, chattering and grating notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Erythrura viridifacies
- Authority
- Hachisuka & Delacour, 1937
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Erythrura
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Austral Rail
Rallus antarcticus
Scarce, very local, and rarely seen rail of Patagonia. Found in fresh marshes and lake edges with tall reeds and rushes. Sometimes comes out to feed at edges of reeds early and late in the day, but mainly detected by voice. No similar species in range: note the striped back, barred flanks, and red bill. Plumbeous Rail is larger with plain plumage and a greenish bill.
Violet Crow
Corvus violaceus
An entirely blackish short-tailed crow. Has a subtle purplish sheen that is visible in only certain lighting conditions. Juveniles lack purple gloss. Inhabits forest, edge, and plantations in the lowlands and foothills. Singles, pairs, or small groups can be found in the canopy. Recently described from Seram, and perhaps also occurs on Ambon and Buru. Unmistakable, being the only crow on these islands. Gives an odd call for a crow: a nasal, trumpeting “errr.” Gives more crow-like sounds too, but higher-pitched than many sounds of the family, including a high-pitched, guttural “kreh-kreh…”.
Socotra Bunting
Emberiza socotrana
Brownish bunting with boldly striped black-and-white head, bright chestnut wings and buffy wash on the breast that fades towards the vent. Endemic to Socotra, where it prefers rocky areas in shrubland and grassland. Typically encountered hopping on the ground searching for food. Pairs breed between 600–1200m, but move to the coastal plain after breeding, where they form small flocks. Song is typically a series of three or four short strident notes, “tseet-tee-too” or “steet-tsoo-steet-tsoo.”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.