Pink-billed Parrotfinch
Encyclopedia
The Pink-billed Parrotfinch (Erythrura kleinschmidti) is a species of estrildid finch
found in island of Viti Levu
, Fiji
. Commonly found at undisturbed mature forest in the centre and east of Viti Levu, e.g. Joske's Thumb
near Suva
. This species is found at mid-height along tree-trunks and branches, usually alone or in pairs but also joining mixed-species flocks, feeding primarily on insects, but also flower buds and fruits.
found in southeast Asia and Australasia. They are small birds with short rounded wings and tails. Most species have green bodies, and all but one have the red tail that gives the genus its scientific name Erythrura, which is derived from the Ancient Greek
ερυθρός erythros, "red", and ουρά oura, "tail".
The Pink-billed Parrotfinch was initially described as Amblynura kleinschmidti by German naturalist Otto Finsch
in 1878. The binomial name commemorates his compatriot, theologian
and ornithologist
, Otto Kleinschmidt
, who discovered the species on Viti Levu
in 1877.
A related species, the Fiji Parrotfinch
, E. pealii, also occurs on Viti Levu. This locally common bird is smaller, and adults have a red head and a much smaller, dark bill. Immatures have a pale bill, but are brighter green than their larger relative.
. This is a bird of undisturbed mature forest at any elevation, although it has been found to be common in one area of secondary forest, where it made a failed attempt to nest. It has disappeared from some previously occupied sites for reasons that are not known.
, small twigs and lichen
s.
This finch feeds mainly on insects, foraging on tree trunks and vines, and using its large bill to lever open likely hiding places, probe dead leaves, and crush twigs and tree fern stems. It will strip bark in a search for scale insect
s. It will also take flower buds, berries and fruit, but is not the specialised fig-eater it was once thought to be. Although it feeds mostly in trees, it will forage on the ground.
The common endemic Fiji Goshawk
is a specialist predator of small and medium-sized birds, and the Swamp Harrier
is also a widespread predator, often taking fledglings. The local subspecies of the Peregrine Falcon
. Falco peregrinus nesiotes will hunt finches, but is itself rare and declining. Barn Owl
s eat mainly rats, but sometimes take small birds. Rats and mice use Fiji Parrotfinch nests, and may be significant predators of the species. The Fan-tailed Cuckoo
, which has an endemic Fijian subspecies, is a brood parasite
, but the parrotfinch does not appear to be a host of this large cuckoo.
No specific parasites of Fiji Parrotfinch have been recorded, but microsporidiosis
and avian malaria
, both spread by parasites, have been found in captive populations of other parrotfinch species.
in its wetter central and eastern areas. It is fairly widespread in mature forests, but appears always to have been rare. A survey of prime habitat found birds at eight out of 13 sites, with a density based on very limited information of 2.8 birds per km2 (7.3 per mi2). Assuming 4,000 km2 (1,500 mi2) of suitable habitat gives an estimated population of 2,500 to 10,000 birds.
Although the introduced mongoose
has caused the decline in numbers of several ground-living birds on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu
, the rarity of the Pink-billed Parrotfinch cannot be directly attributed to this or any other introduced vertebrate. The relatively small population is believed to be declining due to continuing deforestation, half of the island's mature woodland having already been cleared for agriculture or planting with mahogany
. The best site, Joske's Thumb
, was lost in the 1980s. The small population on a single island, together with the expected ongoing decline mean that this species is it is therefore classed as Vulnerable
on the IUCN Red List
.
The Pink-billed Parrotfinch is protected under Schedule 1 of Fiji's Endangered and Protected Species Act 2002, which regulates the import and trade of species that are threatened with extinction.
It is being conserved in the protected watershed forest near Suva
. It was proposed to find more suitable areas for Pink-billed Parrotfinch conservation, and preserve the watershed forest habitat near Suva.in Appendix I, which lists all species which are or may be affected by trade.
Estrildid finch
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They can be classified as the family Estrildidae , or as a sub-group within the family Passeridae, which also includes the true sparrows....
found in island of Viti Levu
Viti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. Commonly found at undisturbed mature forest in the centre and east of Viti Levu, e.g. Joske's Thumb
Joske's Thumb
Joske's Thumb is a precipitous volcanic plug that rises on the horizon to the west of Suva, Fiji.Sir Edmund Hillary was defeated in his first attempts to climb the peak....
near Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
. This species is found at mid-height along tree-trunks and branches, usually alone or in pairs but also joining mixed-species flocks, feeding primarily on insects, but also flower buds and fruits.
Taxonomy
The parrotfinches are a genus of estridid finchesEstrildid finch
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They can be classified as the family Estrildidae , or as a sub-group within the family Passeridae, which also includes the true sparrows....
found in southeast Asia and Australasia. They are small birds with short rounded wings and tails. Most species have green bodies, and all but one have the red tail that gives the genus its scientific name Erythrura, which is derived from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
ερυθρός erythros, "red", and ουρά oura, "tail".
The Pink-billed Parrotfinch was initially described as Amblynura kleinschmidti by German naturalist Otto Finsch
Otto Finsch
Friedrich Hermann Otto Finsch was a German ethnographer, naturalist and colonial explorer.-Biography:...
in 1878. The binomial name commemorates his compatriot, theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and ornithologist
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
, Otto Kleinschmidt
Otto Kleinschmidt
Otto Kleinschmidt was a German theologist, pastor and ornithologist. He introduced a typological species concept into German ornithology. His Formenkreis theory influenced the early ideas of Erwin Stresemann. Others have considered him one of the first biogeographers...
, who discovered the species on Viti Levu
Viti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
in 1877.
Description
This is a large and robust parrotfinch, 11 cm (4½ in) in length, with a long pale pink bill much larger than that of other parrotfinches. The adult has mainly olive-green plumage, but it has a black face, blue crown and nape, and the bright red rump typical of the genus. Its eyes are brown or reddish-brown, and the legs and feet are pink or brownish-pink. The sexes are alike. The juvenile is like the adult, although its plumage is; slightly duller, and it has a pale orange bill with a dark tip. The call is a typical parrotfinch high pitched tsee tsee or cheee cheee cheee. A series of clicks may also be heard.A related species, the Fiji Parrotfinch
Fiji Parrotfinch
The Fiji Parrotfinch is a species of estrildid finch endemic to Fiji that was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the Red-headed Parrotfinch. This parrotfinch is a small, mainly green bird with a red head and tail and a stubby dark grey bill...
, E. pealii, also occurs on Viti Levu. This locally common bird is smaller, and adults have a red head and a much smaller, dark bill. Immatures have a pale bill, but are brighter green than their larger relative.
Distribution and habitat
The Fiji Parrotfinch is endemic to Fiji, where it is found only in the wetter central and eastern parts of the largest island, Viti LevuViti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
. This is a bird of undisturbed mature forest at any elevation, although it has been found to be common in one area of secondary forest, where it made a failed attempt to nest. It has disappeared from some previously occupied sites for reasons that are not known.
Behaviour
This bird is usually found alone, in pairs or in small family groups, and is less gregarious than other parrotfinches. It is normally sedentary, but outside the breeding season it may join joins mixed-species foraging flocks. The only known nest was similar in shape to that of the Fiji Parrotfinch, domed with a side entrance. It was constructed from of dead leaves, including those of bambooBamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
, small twigs and lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s.
This finch feeds mainly on insects, foraging on tree trunks and vines, and using its large bill to lever open likely hiding places, probe dead leaves, and crush twigs and tree fern stems. It will strip bark in a search for scale insect
Scale insect
The scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, generally classified as the superfamily Coccoidea. There are about 8,000 species of scale insects.-Ecology:...
s. It will also take flower buds, berries and fruit, but is not the specialised fig-eater it was once thought to be. Although it feeds mostly in trees, it will forage on the ground.
Predators and parasites
Fiji Goshawk
The Fiji Goshawk is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It was once considered to be the same species as the Brown Goshawk of Australia and New Caledonia. It is endemic to Fiji, where it occurs on the larger islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Kadavu, Gau and Ovalau...
is a specialist predator of small and medium-sized birds, and the Swamp Harrier
Swamp Harrier
The Swamp Harrier also known as the Marsh Harrier, Australasian Harrier, Kāhu, Swamp-hawk or New Zealand Hawk is a large, slim bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.-Description:...
is also a widespread predator, often taking fledglings. The local subspecies of the Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
. Falco peregrinus nesiotes will hunt finches, but is itself rare and declining. Barn Owl
Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
s eat mainly rats, but sometimes take small birds. Rats and mice use Fiji Parrotfinch nests, and may be significant predators of the species. The Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Fan-tailed Cuckoo
The Fan-tailed Cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family.It is found in Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.-Habitat:...
, which has an endemic Fijian subspecies, is a brood parasite
Brood parasite
Brood parasites are organisms that use the strategy of brood parasitism, a kind of kleptoparasitism found among birds, fish or insects, involving the manipulation and use of host individuals either of the same or different species to raise the young of the brood-parasite...
, but the parrotfinch does not appear to be a host of this large cuckoo.
No specific parasites of Fiji Parrotfinch have been recorded, but microsporidiosis
Microsporidiosis
Microspridiosis is an opportunistic intestinal infection that causes diarrhea and wasting in immunocompromised individuals . It results from different species of microsporidia, a group of microbial fungi....
and avian malaria
Avian malaria
Avian malaria is a parasitic disease of birds.-Etiology:Avian malaria is most notably caused by Plasmodium relictum, a protist that infects birds in tropical regions...
, both spread by parasites, have been found in captive populations of other parrotfinch species.
Status
This parrotfinch occurs only on the island of Viti LevuViti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
in its wetter central and eastern areas. It is fairly widespread in mature forests, but appears always to have been rare. A survey of prime habitat found birds at eight out of 13 sites, with a density based on very limited information of 2.8 birds per km2 (7.3 per mi2). Assuming 4,000 km2 (1,500 mi2) of suitable habitat gives an estimated population of 2,500 to 10,000 birds.
Although the introduced mongoose
Mongoose
Mongoose are a family of 33 living species of small carnivorans from southern Eurasia and mainland Africa. Four additional species from Madagascar in the subfamily Galidiinae, which were previously classified in this family, are also referred to as "mongooses" or "mongoose-like"...
has caused the decline in numbers of several ground-living birds on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu , formerly known as Sandalwood Island, is the second largest island of Fiji. Located 64 kilometres to the north of the larger Viti Levu, the island has an area of 5,587.1 km² and a population of some 130,000.- Geography :...
, the rarity of the Pink-billed Parrotfinch cannot be directly attributed to this or any other introduced vertebrate. The relatively small population is believed to be declining due to continuing deforestation, half of the island's mature woodland having already been cleared for agriculture or planting with mahogany
Mahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
. The best site, Joske's Thumb
Joske's Thumb
Joske's Thumb is a precipitous volcanic plug that rises on the horizon to the west of Suva, Fiji.Sir Edmund Hillary was defeated in his first attempts to climb the peak....
, was lost in the 1980s. The small population on a single island, together with the expected ongoing decline mean that this species is it is therefore classed as Vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
on the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
.
The Pink-billed Parrotfinch is protected under Schedule 1 of Fiji's Endangered and Protected Species Act 2002, which regulates the import and trade of species that are threatened with extinction.
It is being conserved in the protected watershed forest near Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
. It was proposed to find more suitable areas for Pink-billed Parrotfinch conservation, and preserve the watershed forest habitat near Suva.in Appendix I, which lists all species which are or may be affected by trade.