Facts About Blue-faced Parrot-Finch
The blue-faced parrotfinch is a vibrant and diminutive bird that is common across several regions worldwide. This species can be found in northeastern Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Micronesia, France, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. These birds thrive in subtropical and tropical environments, particularly in moist forests that range from mountainous to lowland areas. They often frequent the edges of forests or habitats that have been disturbed.
In terms of diet, the blue-faced parrotfinch shows a particular preference for grass seeds, including some exotic varieties like Brachiaria in Australia. The species has an extensive range, spanning an estimated 10 million square kilometers globally.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the blue-faced parrotfinch as of "least concern" indicating that it is not currently at risk of extinction.
Regarding its origins, intriguing studies conducted by Antonio Arnaiz-Villena and his team suggest that these birds, along with other estrildid finches, may have originally evolved in India. From there, they dispersed to Africa and various Pacific regions.