Pin-tailed Parrotfinch – age variation

“I have had a number of opportunities to watch the Pin-tailed Parrotfinchs (Erythrura prasina prasina) over many days, and seen quite a number. There is much variations and I would like to show some ‘less clear cut’ birds.

“The above image is of a ‘classical’ adult female and male. Note that, as Wells 2007 says, the adult female has a ‘touch of blue at the base of lower mandible’. Notice also the cinnamon breast and belly of the male with central rich red patch.

“The above is a bird with considerable blue in the face, lighter green on head and neck, lighter cinnamon underparts and lacks the central red. This is a juvenile male.

“This (above) is a bird with lighter green on head and neck, lighter cinnamon underparts and almost no blue in face. I suspect this is a juvenile female.

“This (above) is of an adult male in moult (unless this is a ‘skin’ disease of the head).

“Above is of an adult male with a large, diffuse central rich red patch over the belly and up to the chest. The cinnamon areas are also enhanced. I suspect this is breeding plumage.

“In contrast see this is of an adult male with not so ‘bright’ a breast and belly (above). Position, lighting vary but I have a number of images of both to compare with.

“Finally above and below are of an adult male who was feeding a ‘pale’ bird.

“At first I considered courtship feeding. But the very light breast, shorter tail and ‘juvenile-look’ to the bird suggests an adult feeding young.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
4 & 9th December 2015

Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: A ‘damaged’ trail along primary jungle