Painted Finch
Emblema pictum· 梅花雀科(1 photos)
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Painted Finch
10.5-11.5 cm. Male: bill fine-pointed, black and crimson, blue at base; eye white; face/throat/belly/rump glossy scarlet; underparts black, heavily spotted white. Female: less red; larger white spots. Immature: duller; bill blackish; less red, none on rump. Pairs, flocks to 30+ among rocks, spinifex; perches boulders, bare branches. Flushes with chatter; flight fast, rumps glowing.
- Other name
- Painted Firetail .
- Similar Species
- Crimson Finch, Crimson Chat.
- Voice
- scratchy, staccato 'chek chek'; rapid 'chek-did-did-dit', reedy 'ched up, cheddy up'.
- Habitat
- spinifex in rocky hills over permanent water, plains; acacia scrubs; citrus orchards.
- Breeding
- any month, after rain.
- Nest
- globular, poorly constructed with verandah; of spinifex, twigs, bark, rootlets, soft grass; lined with plant down, feathers; on platform of bark, roots; in spinifex or on ground.
- Eggs
- 3-4; white, rounded.
- Range & Status
- patchy through arid inland and w. coastal Aust.: e. to Winton-Opalton (Q); n. to Mt Isa-Nicholson R.-Alexandria-Wave Hill (NT); w. to s. Kimberley-Pilbara (WA), to w. coast c. Eighty Mile Beach-Carnarvon Ras.; s. inland to upper Murchison R.-Menzies; in SA, s. to c. Oodnadatta-n. Flinders Ras.-L. Frome. Often casual beyond 'normal' range; nomadic.
