Neochmia phaeton
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~70% in a week >90%
The crimson finch (Neochmia phaeton) is a species of bird in the family Estrildidae. It is found throughout Northern Australia as well as parts of southern New Guinea. Crimson finches feature a distinctively bright crimson coat and are known for their aggression.
Hombron and Jacquinot first observed crimson finches at Raffles Bay in northern Australia in 1841. Its protonym is Fringilla phaeton. "Crimson finch" has been designated as the official common name for the species by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOC). Alternate names include "blood finch" and "killer finch", derived from its tendency for aggressive behavior towards other red birds.
The crimson finch belongs to the family Estrildidae. Two subspecies are recognised: the black-bellied crimson finch (Neochmia p. phaeton) and its white-bellied counterpart (Neochmia p. evangelinae). A related species is the star finch (Neochmia ruficauda). It also bears resemblance to birds of the genus Lagonosticta (firefinches), to which it is closely related. Common physical characteristics between crimson finches and firefinches include a red head and bright crimson coat.
The crimson... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoo Pilsen | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 2 | Taronga Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Caversham Wildlife Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Crimson Finch sighting in Kakadu National Park on a given day, based on 600 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 44th most-seen of the 186 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
December
In that month about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Crimson Finch in Kakadu National Park on a given day, against about 20% in March, the lowest month. That is one of Kakadu National Park's wettest months, with about 250 mm of rain against almost none in August. February has too few records to rate.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Crimson Finch sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Crimson Finch sightings, Kakadu National Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Nitmiluk National Park (Australia, about 10%) and Litchfield National Park (Australia, about 10%).
Same family: Estrildidae
The closest relatives of the Crimson Finch that you can see in Kakadu National Park (family Estrildidae, Waxbills and Allies) are Double-barred Finch (about 30%), Long-tailed Finch (about 20%) and Masked Finch (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Crimson Finch is recorded against all the birds logged in Kakadu National Park (600 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
