Beautiful Firetail
A species of Firetail Scientific name : Stagonopleura bella Genus : Firetail
Beautiful Firetail, A species of Firetail
Botanical name: Stagonopleura bella
Genus: Firetail
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Aviceda , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
At 10 to 13 cm (4–5 in) long and weighing 14g (⁄2 oz) the beautiful firetail is a small plump bird, slightly smaller than the diamond firetail. Its plumage is mostly olive-brown. The white chest has a fine pattern of dark lines. The head has a black mask with pale blue rings around the eyes and a thick red beak. Its rump is a deep red, its legs and feet are creamy pink. The wings and tail are short and rounded. Juvenile birds are less colourful with a smaller face mask and a blackish beak. The male has a black abdomen.
Size
11 cm
Feeding Habits
Beautiful Firetail's diet consists of grass seeds, tree and shrub seeds, small insects, and snails. It forages low among vegetation and on the ground, often in small flocks or pairs, occasionally alone or with Neochmia temporalis.
Habitat
The beautiful Firetail primarily inhabits shrublands and woodlands in mesic tablelands, and southeastern coastal heaths, typically choosing environments near water sources. These birds favor areas rich in casuarinas, tea-trees, paperbarks, and river red gums. They are often found in dense vegetation such as thick undergrowth and gardens from lowlands up to elevations of 1500 meters. Although beautiful Firetail has a presence in Tasmania and offshore islands, it is endemic to broader southeastern regions and is known to be a resident species, remaining in close proximity to its home range.
Dite type
Granivorous
General Info
Behavior
The beautiful firetail mainly feeds on grass seed and Casuarina and Melaleuca seeds. It can also be found in association with Banksia ericifolia heathland in coastal New South Wales. Small insects and snails occasionally complement this herbivore diet. The birds are usually found in pairs or forming small groups of up to 20 individuals.
Distribution Area
The beautiful firetail is endemic to Southeastern Australia. Its distribution range extends from Newcastle to Kangaroo Island, however, the bird is most prolific in Tasmania and off-shore islands. It lives in coastal heathland, forests and shrubbery, never far from water. Its preference for near water habitats was shown in a study of its occurrence in intact forest areas of the Victorian Central Highlands, where it was almost exclusively found in riparian habitat. The beautiful firetail is considered a resident bird, keeping close to home.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Photo By Aviceda , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Estrildid finches Genus
Firetail Species
Beautiful Firetail