Bird
Crimson Finch
Neochmia phaetonAlso known as Blood Finch, Crimson Waxbill
Crimson finches travel in fiery family groups along tropical waterways, dense tall grasses, and pandanus thickets. Monogamous pairs build bulky dome nests where both parents fiercely defend their territory against intruder birds. They forage actively near swampy margins, gleaning grass seeds and snapping up small insects.
ColorfulSongbirdTerritorial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrass Seeds, Termites, Spiders
Predators
- Collared Sparrowhawk
- Feral Cat
- Olive Python
ThreatsInvasive grasses, inappropriate fire regimes, overgrazing
HabitatsRiparian zones, grasslands, pandanus swamps
Life span3–6 years
Classification
- FamilyEstrildidae
- SpeciesNeochmia phaeton
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen for Calls: Search near watercourses for high-pitched, metallic piercing calls.
- Check Pandanus: Scan pandanus palms and tall riverside grasses where pairs love to nest.
- Maintain Distance: Keep a respectful distance from active nests to avoid provoking territorial aggression.
Co-occurring Grassfinch (c) Andrew Allen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Allen · cc-by
Co-occurring Grassfinch JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Close Relative JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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