Crimson Finch
Sonnenastrild
The Sonnenastrild ( Neochmia phaeton ), also called Sonnenamadine, is a species in the family of finches. The species is found in northern Australia and New Guinea. We distinguish several subtypes of this type.
Appearance and distribution area
The Sonnenastrild be assigned to four different subspecies. The nominate (Np phaeton ) is distributed from the northeast of Western Australia to north- west Queensland. In this subspecies both the beak and the face, chin, throat, breast and sides of the body, the upper tail-coverts and upper tail pages are colored red. Occasionally, white spots show on the chest. Crown, neck, back and wing-coverts are gray.
The other subspecies differ slightly in their body coloration. The clearest colored differently are those referred to as white-bellied subspecies Sonnenastrild (Np albiventer ) and ( Np evang elinae ), both of which have a white to cream-colored belly. The latter subspecies is the only one that can also be found outside Australia. It is found in the lowlands of southern New Guinea. The remaining subspecies are just like the nominate race in northern Australia home. N.P. albiventer can only be found on the Cape York Peninsula; N.P. iredalei lives in northeastern Queensland.
Way of life
Similar to the Binsenastrilde the Sonnenastrilde live near bodies of water and swamps. Of all the North Australian finches this type is most tied to the proximity of water and a relatively dense and high vegetation. It is according to areally distributed only in the humid coastal areas of the far north of Australia. In the interior it is found only on narrow gallery forest strips along water courses and the few reedy swamps. It has also opened up human settlement area and occurs on farms and in settlements when these open water bodies provide. Compared to the people she is not shy and tolerates approaches to within a few meters. In New Guinea, the species is also in rice fields. Otherwise, their way of life is very different from that of the Binsenastrilde. Sonnenastrilde never breed in colonies and are very aggressive in the breeding season. They show no contact offices or mutual plumage crawl. You are a total of less social than other finch species and do not form larger flocks, but at best after the breeding season loose associations of two to three family groups that meet an individual distance between half and one meter. Are striking their tail movements. Excited Sonnenastrilde hit the tail almost to the vertical in the air and then let him fall back slowly. Less excited Sonnenastrilde move their tail side in disputes and at risk of the tail is fanned out something in addition.
The diet consists of grass seeds. Similar to the Binsenastrild half ripe seeds make up a large portion of food. In the moist habitat of these Prachtfinkenart this stand over a relatively long time. The seeds are geklaubt almost exclusively from the ears. At the beginning of the breeding season they eat to a large extent also insects. It is termites, ants, beetles and spiders but also.
Reproduction
The breeding season falls in the second half of the rainy season, ie in the months of January to April. In the vicinity of artificial water bodies, the breeding season may last even into June. Like many other finch species also shows that males have a Halmbalz. It jumps back in leaps and bounds and with the females fed turned tail to partner with a blade of grass in its beak. In the vicinity of the female, it jumps with an almost horizontal posture and stiff heel joints on the spot up and down and then sings.
The nest is built of long grasses and leaves and strips of bark. On building the nest, the male is very much involved. The nest consists of five to eight eggs, which are incubated by both parent birds. The breed goes first a time-consuming courtship behavior, in which the parties to eliminate their mutual aggression.
Attitude
Sonnenastrilde were first shown in Europe in 1861 in the Zoological Gardens in London. 1865 imported Carl Hagenbeck, a pair of this kind in Germany. Since then, apart from the war and postwar years, almost without interruption in trade. However, it is usually introduced only in small numbers. Meanwhile, it is very bred regularly.