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A brilliantly colorful, unmistakable bird with vivid green back, yellow belly, purple chest, blue nape, black throat, and very pale bill; face may be red, yellow or black.
Endangered
Endemic to Australia
At a glance
FamilyWaxbills and Allies
SizeTiny
RarityUncommon
HabitatHerbaceous Graminoids Sparse Hummock Grasses, Open woodland, Shrubland, Sparse woodland, and Woody Trees Scattered
Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from September.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Louis Masarei
Range map
Range map
536visible hotspots
5635visible records
4states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Juvenile dull olive above, pale below, with paler bill than most other small finch-like birds.
Behavior
Feeds on the ground; when disturbed, flushes into trees, showing a flash of bright green backs. Inhabits grassy open woodlands across northeastern Western Australia, the Top End of Northern Territory, and parts of northern Queensland.
Gallery