Kleinschmidt's parrot finch

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kleinschmidt's parrot finch
Black-fronted parrot finch

Black-fronted parrot finch

Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Family : Fine finches (Estrildidae)
Subfamily : Lonchurinae
Genre : Real Parrot Madines ( Erythrura )
Type : Kleinschmidt's parrot finch
Scientific name
Erythrura kleinschmidti
( Finsch , 1878)

Kleinschmidt's Parrot Finch ( Erythrura kleinschmidti ), also known as the Black Mask Parrot or Black-forehead Parrot , is a species of the finch family. No subspecies are distinguished.

Kleinschmidt's parrot finch is one of the rarest species of finch and is classified as an endangered ( vulnerable ) species by the IUCN . Unlike most species of fine finch, it has never been introduced into Europe alive.

description

Black-fronted parrot finch painted by Joseph Smit (1836–1929)

Kleinschmidts Parrotiamadine reaches a body length of ten centimeters and weighs an average of 15 grams. There is no pronounced sexual dimorphism .

The forehead and the front part of the head as well as the reins and the area around the eyes, the cheeks and the chin are black. The rear parting is dark blue. The rear rump and the upper tail-coverts are bright red. The tail is short and black-brown in color. The feathers here are lined with green. The area around the ears, the sides of the neck and the underside of the body are bright yellowish green. The eyes are dark brown. The beak, which is unusually bulky for a fine finch species, is overall yellowish flesh-colored, but a bit darker at the tip of the beak.

Young birds are a little more dull in color. The sides of the neck and the underside of the body are a bit browner.

Distribution and way of life

Distribution area of ​​the black-fronted parrot finch

The distribution area is the island of Viti Levu in the Fiji Islands . The habitat are rainforest regions in almost all altitude levels. The species prefers to be found in locations above 1,000 meters and is occasionally also found in secondary forests. So far, it has been observed mainly singly or in pairs. With its bulky beak it pokes in rotten branches, under leaves and between fern stems. Insects are believed to play a big role in their diet. But it has also been observed when eating wild fruits, especially figs .

Very little is known about reproductive biology.

Etymology and history of research

Otto Finsch described the black- fronted parrot finch under the name Amblynura kleinschmidti . The type specimen was collected in November 1877 by the collector Theodor Kleinschmidt in Viti Levu for the Godeffroy Museum .

The word Erythrura is of Greek origin and is derived from the words “erythros ἐρυθρός ” for “red” and “-ouros, oura ουρά ” for “-tailed, tail”.

literature

  • Jürgen Nicolai (Ed.), Joachim Steinbacher (Ed.), Renate van den Elzen, Gerhard Hofmann: Prachtfinken - Australia, Oceania, Southeast Asia. Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3249-4 .
  • Peter Clement , Alan Harris, John Davis: Finches and Sparrows. An Identification Guide. Christopher Helm, London 1993, ISBN 0-7136-8017-2 .
  • James A. Jobling: Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm, London 2010, ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4 .
  • Otto Finsch: On a new Species of Finch from the Feejee Islands . In: Proceedings of the Scientific Meetings of the Zoological Society of London . 1878, p. 440 ( online [accessed July 27, 2013]). and panel XXIX

Web links

Commons : Schwarzstirn-Parrotiamadine ( Erythrura kleinschmidti )  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ BirdLife Factsheet , accessed June 25, 2010
  2. ↑ Nicolai et al., P. 179
  3. ↑ Otto Finsch, p. 440
  4. ↑ James A. Jobling, p. 151