Photo: Lip Kee Yap from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Crimson Finch
Neochmia phaeton
Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 10 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Neochmia
- Species phaeton
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Crimson Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Crimson Finch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton) is a member of the Estrildidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU sc New Guinea and n Australia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10 g, with a wing length of about 5.1 cm and a tail of around 6.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Crimson Finch?
The Crimson Finch is a very small bird that weighs around 10 g.
Where does the Crimson Finch live?
The Crimson Finch is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU sc New Guinea and n Australia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Crimson Finch belong to?
The Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Crimson Finch eat?
The Crimson Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Crimson Finch migrate?
The Crimson Finch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Crimson Finch endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Crimson Finch make?
1 real field recording of the Crimson Finch — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Crimson Finch's range?
The Crimson Finch has a mapped global range of about 1.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Estrildidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.