photograph by Hafiz Ikhlas

Parrot finch chick By: I. Eibl-Eibesfeldt From: Life Nature Library: Animal Behavior 1965

Blue-Faced Parrotfinches are typically seen in patches, occasionally with 30 or more birds, but the number of birds that are seen together increases with sufficient food sources. The females typically lay an average of four eggs - with a maximum of eight - and incubate for 15 days. The male is responsible for feeding the nestlings, which fledge after roughly 21 days.

Found in parts of northern Australia, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Micronesia, and Palau, these estrildid finches live in forests, shrublands, and grasslands. They mostly eat grass seeds, along with other seeds, small berries, and insects, foraging on the ground and in grass or low bushes. Pairs build oval nests from grasses, ferns, leaves, moss, and roots, often in trees or shrubs. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks.

More #love for the #parrotfinch! This Royal Parrotfinch is painted using #watercolour #ink #gouache and #pencil over my personal #moleskine #diary . There will be many more to come! #royal #Australia #parrot #finch #blue #turquoise #rose #red #birds #ornithology #natural #illustration #rgb #watercolour #ink #gouache #pencil #moleskine #diary #personal #eastdulwich #dulwich #brockley #honoroakpark #peckham #peckhamrye #frangiffard (at Peckham Rye Common)

photograph by Dave Newman

photograph by Chris Venetz