GREEN-FACED PARROTFINCH
Erythrura viridfacies
Family Estrildidae

Bird # 390 - January 2013

L 104 mm (4 3/4")
endemic, rare and local

This bird is known locally as mayang-kawayan or "bamboo maya". It is known to suddenly show up in big numbers to feed on bamboo that is in flower. The bamboo it feeds on only flowers every 20 or so years and then dies. The flock was made up of about 100 + birds. They were last seen in the area in 2006. The females and juveniles have pale breasts.

We went to Bataan with other WBCP members when WBCP member Doc Joey reported the flock. The mountainside area where they were seen before was full of clumps of bamboo in various stage of flower. We were surprised when the flock showed up right at the spot where we were, after only about 30 minutes of waiting. They would move around to different clumps of bamboo. We were mostly viewing them while they fed on the bamboo across the river from us. Our estimate of one group was 40 individuals. When another bird mobbed or scared off this group however, there were many more individuals that flew off from the bamboo clump. The other birds were probably hidden by the bamboo flowers.  After about 30 minutes of feeding, the flock flew off and did not return again that morning.