
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Erythrura prasina
A Southeast Asian estrildid with grass-green plumage, a blue face, a red rump and a long pointed tail. At 14-15 cm it is among the largest estrildids, living in flocks in bamboo and around paddy fields.
The pin-tailed parrotfinch (Erythrura prasina) is an estrildid finch of Southeast Asia. At 14-15 cm it is among the largest estrildids. The body is bright grass-green with a blue face, a red rump and central tail feathers, and a long pointed tail. It occurs in Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and China, with an estimated global range of ten million square kilometres. It lives in subtropical and tropical montane and lowland moist forest and also enters bamboo thickets and rice plantations. Flocks can do great damage to rice crops and in parts of its range it is classed as a pest. In 2007 an expedition reported the species from the upper slopes of Mount Mantalingahan in Palawan, the Philippines. In Europe it was already kept by 1877, and a substantial consignment was imported through a London dealer in 1878. Until the First World War it was among the most frequently imported Asian estrildids, and it is still regularly offered in the trade.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Pin-tailed Parrotfinch lives 5-7 years.
The Pin-tailed Parrotfinch grows to 14-15cm.
Origin
Montane and lowland moist forest, bamboo thickets and rice plantations of Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and China)
Lifespan
5-7 years
Size
14-15cm
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Accepted name: Erythrura prasina (Sparrman, 1788)
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Erythrura prasina. The family Estrildidae is not listed in the CITES Appendices, so this species is not covered. The IUCN assesses it as Least Concern.
Sources: CITES Appendices (Estrildidae not listed) / IUCN Red List
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
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Temperature
15〜30℃ (typical for Bird)
Humidity
40〜60%
Mixed seed including paddy rice and millets, spray millet, greens
Large and strongly flying, it does better in an aviary than a cage, with enough depth that the long tail is not damaged.
A flocking species that is unsettled when kept alone, so keep it as a pair or in a small group.
Calls are thin and high and the song is short, quiet for a bird of this size.
In the wild it lives on paddy rice, so offer a mix including paddy and millets and check that new birds are feeding.
Intermediate. This is an intermediate-level species. Some prior experience and knowledge of environmental management are recommended.
The average lifespan of Pin-tailed Parrotfinch is 5-7 years. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.
Pin-tailed Parrotfinch typically reaches 14-15cm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.
Pin-tailed Parrotfinch feeds on: Mixed seed including paddy rice and millets, spray millet, greens. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.
The price of Pin-tailed Parrotfinch varies significantly depending on variety, age, sex, and the individual animal's condition. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.
Last updated: September 28, 2026