Plum-headed Finch

Plum-headed Finch
Plum-headed Finch
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Neochmia
Species: N. modesta
Binomial name
Neochmia modesta
(Gould, 1837)
The approximate range of the Plum-headed Finch

The Plum-headed Finch Neochmia modesta also known as Cherry Finch is a common species of estrildid finch found in Australia. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 100,000 – 1,000,000 km².

Contents

Habitat

It is found in dry savanna and subtropical/ tropical (lowland) dry shrubland in Australia. The status of the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Characteristics

The female is similar to the male but lacks the male's black chin spot.

The Plum-headed Finch breeds mainly from September-January in the south and August-March in the north. The nest is round, laterally compressed chamber of green grass and is built in thick bushes. 4-6 pure white eggs are laid.


Helidon, SE Queensland, Australia


Origin

Origin and phylogeny has been obtained by Antonio Arnaiz-Villena et al.[1] Estrildinae may have originated in India and dispersed thereafter (towards Africa and Pacific Ocean habitats).

References

  1. ^ 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://www.benthamscience.com/open/tooenij/articles/V002/29TOOENIJ.pdf. 
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