Red faced Parrotfinch
BirdCare.com.au
PO  Box 126 Mitcham Vic 3132 ( Victoria, Australia )

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. Red faced parrotfinch
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    red faced parrotfinch photo
  • Scientific Name:  Erythrura psittacea                  (Click on photo to enlarge)   (Better photo needed)
  • Common Name/s:  RED FACED PARROTFINCH,  PARROTFINCH,  RED THROATED PARROTFINCH.
  • Sub Species in country / area of origin:  None
  • Origin / Distribution:  New Caledonia
  • Habitat In Wild:  From tropical island with high rainfall.  Has adapted to farmlands and urban areas.
  • Status In Wild:  Secure.
  • Status In (Australian) Captivity:  Common
  • Age To Sexual Maturity:  About 9 - 12 months.
  • Adult plumage: attained at about 2 - 3 months  
  • Best breeding years (estimate):  12 months - 5th year.
  • Lifespan (estimate):  approx. 7 years
  • Sexing:  Monomorphic / Dimorphic
  • Mutations:  Yes
  • Availability:  Bird dealers
  • Temperament:  The Red faced Parrot finch is generally suitable for mixed collection aviary and can bred as a colony.
  • Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx.) $80
  • Description Of Adults:
  1. Length: Approx. 110 mm (or approx  4.5 inches)
  2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo above - top right of page. (Click on photo to enlarge).
  3. Weight: Approx. 16 gms (or approx. 1/2 oz)
Aviary Notes:

Read notes on "Finches - Non Australian" web page and use in conjunction with details outlined on this page.

Level Of Knowledge Required: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws:  Refer to "Government Laws" web page.

Housing Requirements:  Click on "Housing birds" web page for general details on the housing of Non Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.

The Red faced Parrot finch prefers a planted aviary but will do well in small aviaries and can also be bred in a canary style cage.  Although they can be kept with other finches, only one pair of Red Faced should be housed per aviary.  No spare cock birds should be allowed with a breeding pair.  This should minimize the chances of aggression or injury occurring.  Spare adult hens can be left with breeding pairs and two nests may produce young.

Shrubs, tall grasses and pots of bamboo are preferred.  They spend a lot of time on the ground.

Can be bred in an aviary without growing plants provided sufficient nesting sites are available.

Diet / Feeding:  Click on "Feeding birds" web page for general details on the nutrition of  Non Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.

The Red faced Parrot finch requires a good quality finch mix, seeding grasses and some fruits (e.g. apple) and leafy green vegetables.  Live food is essential at breeding season.  Mealworms, small crickets and small locusts can be offered.  Sprouted or soaked seed if available.

Basic seed mix should include Canary seed, White French Millet, Japanese Millet, and Yellow and Red Panicum.

Nesting:  A basic overview only.

  • Roosting nest: Yes / No
  • Nesting months:  May breed year round if conditions are suitable but Spring to Autumn gives the best results.
  • Nesting receptacles:  The Red faced Parrot finch will build a nest in a shrub or dry brush.  Equally it will build a nest in a wide variety of artificial nests including a nest box.  In a breeding cage they will use a wooden nest box.
  • Nest:  Both parents build a dome shaped nest without an entrance tunnel.  Nest is made from grasses, coconut fibre and other suitable materials and is lined with feathers and soft fine grasses such as Swamp or November grass.
  • Who incubates the eggs: Hen / cock / both share.

Parent birds generally reuse the nest for subsequent clutches.  Adequate new nest material must be available for the birds to refurbish the old nest or build a new nest for the next clutch.  Some people place nesting materials in wire frames and put a hollow in the material.  The birds will use this hollow and finish the nest and line it.

More details on finch nests and a selection of finch nest photos can be located on the "nests", "finch nests" and "finch nest photos" web pages.  Click on "Up" then "nests" then "finch nests" and "finch nests photos" in the navigation bars.

Breeding: Egg ColourClutch/s per year 3 - 4.  Eggs per nest  3 - 6.  Incubation approx 13 days.  Fledge approx.  21 days.  Independent approx. another 3 - 4 weeks.

The Red faced Parrot finches require livefood for successful breeding.  Parents will tolerate moderate nest inspection but came must be exercised.  They can be fostered under Bengalese but be sure to remove the young as soon as they have become fully independent and place them with their own species.

The Red faced Parrot Finch is closely related to the Blue faced Parrot Finch and should not be housed with them or any other Parrotfinches so as to avoid hybridization.

Artificial incubation, hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site.  It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.  Refer "Specific References" as listed below and "General References" listings.

Health Issues: Refer "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

  • Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new birds or sick birds are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site.  Refer above option - "Avian Health Issues" web page.
  • Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace.  Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References:  Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

  • Australian Aviculture
  • A/A Vol 56 No. 4 Apr 2002 Page 68-72 (Inc photo)
  • A/A Vol 50 No. 7 July 1996 Page 171
  • A/A Vol 50 No. 3 Mar 1996 Page 70-71
  • A/A Vol 31 No. 12 Dec 1977 Page 177-181 (Inc photo)
  • A/A Vol 13 No 5 May 1959 Page 75-77.
  • A/A Vol 12 No 5 May 1958 Page 61-62.
  • A/A Vol  6 No 3 Mar 1952 Page 39-40.
  • A/A Vol  5 No 5 May 1951 Page 64, 60.
  • The Bulletin No 10, July 1943 Page 2.
  • The Bulletin No 4, Nov 1942 Page 1 (The breeding of finches - conclusion).
  • Australian Birdkeeper
  • ABK Vol 16 Issue 7 Feb-Mar 2003 Page 390-393.
  • ABK Vol 11 Issue 1 Feb-Mar 1998 Page 13-15 (Part 2)
  • ABK Vol 10 Issue 12 Dec-Jan 1998 Page 593-595 (Part 1)
  • ABK Vol  7 Issue 3. Jun-July 1994 Page 121-123
  • ABK Vol  5 Issue 3. Jun-July 1992 Page 127-128
  • ABK Vol  5 Issue 1. Feb-Mar 1992 Page 40-44
  • ABK Vol  4 Issue 8. Apr-May 1991 Page 368
  • ABK Vol  1 Issue 3. Jun-July 1988 Page 74-75

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