The Royal Parrotfinch Erythrura regia is a species of estrildid finch

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....

 endemic to Vanuatu

Vanuatu

Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...

. It is found commonly at mid-altitudes on the larger islands such as Espiritu Santo

Espiritu Santo

Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of . It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu....

, above 300 m. But it also can be found at sea-level small islands in fruiting fig

Ficus

Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...

s in forest edge in Emae

Emae

Emae is an island in the Shepherds Islands, Shefa, Vanuatu. Maunga Lasi is the highest peak at 644 m. It forms the northern rim of the underwater volcano of Makura, which also covers the nearby islands of Makura and Mataso...

 and Tongoa. This species is usually found in singles, pairs or small groups feeding on figs in the forest canopy.

Identification

The Royal Parrotfinch is approximately 11 cm long. This species is a multicoloured finch. Male Royal Parrotfinches have a bright red head and tail, blue breast and turquoise-green upperparts, while females are greener in colour. Young Royal Parrotfinches are duller with dull blue head. This species has high, thin voice and trilling song.

Threats

This species is threatened by the commercial logging which removed its natural habitat. There are also reports of small-scale cage-bird trade of Royal Parrotfinch.

Conservation measures

It was suggested to implement captive conservation breeding programme on Lake Letas Reserve, Gaua

Gaua

Gaua is the largest of the Banks Islands in Torba Province of northern Vanuatu. It covers 342 km².- Physical geography :...

. It was also proposed to investigate any cage-bird trade, especially on Tongoa and Emae. Reduce commercial logging to conserve forest reserves, supporting natural habitat of Lake Letas Reserve.