Star Finch

Star Finch
Star Finch
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Neochmia
Species: N. ruficauda
Binomial name
Neochmia ruficauda
(Gould, 1837)

The Star Finch (Neochmia ruficauda) is a species of estrildid finch found in Australia. It inhabits dry grassland and dry savanna habitats.

Contents

Subspecies

It has three subspecies:

  • Neochmia ruficauda subclarescens (inhabits in three separate subpopulations, from Pilbara, Fitzroy River Valley and Gibb River, Western Australia to the Northern Territory/ Queensland border.)
  • Neochmia ruficauda clarescens (located on the Cape York Peninsula)
  • Neochmia ruficauda ruficauda (probably extinct)

Threats

The habitat of Star Finch is threatened by overgrazing plain of grasslands, removing essential cover for their survival as well as sources of food and water. Selective grazing of perennials during the wet season may also remove grasses that are needed for survival during the dry season. Burning of grassland during the dry season may reduce the fallen seed during the wet season and thus reduce the food supply needed by Star Finch. This species is also threatened by cage-bird trades[1].

Availability

Despite the Star Finch having been listed as Near Threatened in the wild it is a common aviary bird. This species has mutations such as the Yellow & Cinnamon varieties[2].

Origin

Origin and phylogeny has been obtained by Antonio Arnaiz-Villena et al.[3] Estrildinae may have originated in India and dispersed thereafter (towards Africa and Pacific Ocean habitats).

References

  1. ^ BirdLife Species Factsheet
  2. ^ www.finchsociety.org
  3. ^ Arnaiz-Villena, A; Ruiz-del-Valle V, Gomez-Prieto P, Reguera R, Parga-Lozano C, Serrano-Vela I (2009). "Estrildinae Finches (Aves, Passeriformes) from Africa, South Asia and Australia: a Molecular Phylogeographic Study". The Open Ornithology Journal 2: 29–36. http://chopo.pntic.mec.es/biolmol/publicaciones/Estrildinae_finches_2009.pdf. 

External links


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