Blue-faced Parrotfinch

1. Bright green plumage with a distinctive deep blue face and crown in males

2. Red uppertail-coverts and tail

3. Very thin, high-pitched “tsit-tsit” call, typically given in flight

These finches feed primarily on grass and bamboo seeds, but also take small insects and figs. They are active foragers at all forest levels and often form loose flocks, especially where food is abundant. Breeding occurs from November to April in Australia, with nests built high in saplings, banyan figs, or Pandanus foliage. The nest is a tightly woven oval or pear-shaped structure with a side entrance, constructed from moss, fibers, and vine strands and lined with dead grass. Females lay 3–6 eggs, incubating them for 13–15 days; nestlings fledge at around 21 days and are cared for by parents for a further 1–2 days.

In Australia, Blue-faced Parrotfinches are found only on Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland. They prefer rainforest edges, grassy clearings, and bamboo stands, foraging from the ground to the canopy. During breeding (November–April), they are in foothill and montane forests; in the non-breeding season, they descend to coastal lowlands.