Neochmia phaeton
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
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 |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Crimson Finch sighting in Nitmiluk National Park on a given day, based on 57 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 44th most-seen of the 103 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May, August and December
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Crimson Finch in Nitmiluk National Park on a given day, against about 10% in January–April, June–July and September–November, the lowest months.
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.
2nd of 3
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Crimson Finch sightings, Nitmiluk National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%. The best odds are in Kakadu National Park (Australia, about 30%).
Same family: Estrildidae
The closest relatives of the Crimson Finch that you can see in Nitmiluk National Park (family Estrildidae, Waxbills and Allies) are Double-barred Finch (about 30%), Masked Finch (about 10%) and Gouldian 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 Nitmiluk National Park (57 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.
