Painted Firetail
Emblema pictum
Silhouette: Traci DuBose · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyEstrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
- GenusEmblema
- SpeciesEmblema pictum (Painted Firetail)
About the Painted Firetail
The painted finch (Emblema pictum) is a common species of estrildid finch found in Australia. The painted finch acquired its name due to the red and white spotted and mottled underparts of both males and females. The binomial comes from emblema meaning 'mosaic or inlaid work'; and pictum derives from the Latin word pictus, meaning 'painted' (from pingere, 'to paint'). Other names include Emblema finch, mountain finch, painted firetail and Emblema. The painted finch is a popular bird to be kept in captivity and in backyard aviaries.
The painted finch is within the genus Emblema which early studies placed four species inside of. More recent research has since determined that this genus did not form a natural assemblage and three of the four species were segregated into the genus Stagonopleura. The species include S. bella (Beautiful firetail), S. oculata (Red-eared firetail) and S. guttata (Diamond firetail). This species, Emblema pictum, is currently the only one allied to the genus.
The painted finch belongs to the family Estrildidae which consists of small passerine birds that occur naturally in the old world including Africa, southern Asia and Australasia. There are... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Painted Firetail in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Zebra Finch
Taeniopygia guttata
Pictorella Munia
Heteromunia pectoralis
Willie Wagtail
Rhipidura leucophrys
White-plumed Honeyeater
Ptilotula penicillata
Singing Honeyeater
Gavicalis virescens
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Acanthagenys rufogularis
Yellow-throated Miner
Manorina flavigula
Black-faced Woodswallow
Artamus cinereus
Gray Shrikethrush
Colluricincla harmonica
Purple-backed Fairywren
Malurus assimilis
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Coracina novaehollandiae
Rufous Songlark
Megalurus mathewsi
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Flinders Ranges National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Cape Range | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Painted Firetail in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Painted Firetail sighting in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Painted Firetail in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Painted Firetail in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in our monthly data.