Molt.—Specimens taken in February and March have mostly new feathers, molt having been almost completed when obtained.
Remarks.—Kittlitz was the first person to describe the Blue-faced Parrot-finch; he found it at Kusaie when he visited the island in the winter of 1827-28. Later, it was found to have an extensive range in Micronesia, Melanesia, northern Australia, Celebes, and the Moluccas. This small finch may be kept as a pet in a cage by native peoples, but as far as I know there is no evidence that the bird has been introduced to island areas as a result of this practice.
Table 53. Measurements of Erythrura trichroa in Micronesia
Table 53. Measurements of Erythrura trichroa in Micronesia
| Subspecies | No. | Wing | Tail | Culmen | Tarsus |
| E. t. trichroa | 6 | 58 | 46 | 13.0 | 17 |
| (57-59) | (43-48) | (12.5-13.5) | (16-17) | ||
| E. t. clara | 29 | 59 | 45 | 13.5 | 17 |
| (57-62) | (41-50) | (13.0-14.5) | (17-18) | ||
| E. t. pelewensis* | 1 | 61.5 | 51 | 13.5 | 18 |
* Kuroda (1922:28).
Coultas observed the finch at Kusaie in 1931; he wrote (field notes) that it is a common bird but difficult to obtain. He found it in most parts of the island and at all elevations; the bird appeared to prefer dense underbrush of the jungle or marginal vegetation. He found no evidence of breeding activity in February, March or April.
Erythrura trichroa clara Takatsukasa and Yamashina
Blue-faced Parrot-finch
Erythrura trichroa clara Takatsukasa and Yamashina, Tori, 7, 1931, p. 110. (Type locality, Ruk Island.)