Assessment Summary
The Red-eared firetail finch (Stagonopleura oculata) is a small bird endemic to the south west of Western Australia with the highest numbers found in the Darling Range and between Esperance and Duke of Orleans Bay. The natural distribution of the species appears to have contracted over recent years and there is no record of the species establishing outside its natural range. The species is not recorded as a pest within its natural range.
The Red-eared firetail finch was assessed as not dangerous to humans, and had a low establishment risk score. In regard to consequences of establishment there was some conjecture regarding the species ability to interbreed with the beautiful firetail finch.
As a result of the paucity of information regarding the potential for hybridising with other members of its genus due to a lack of effort or attempts to hybridise the species, red-eared firetails must be held under license/permit to ensure that conditions can be applied to prevent housing the red-eared firetail finch with any species of the same genus.
Assessment Documentation
Red-eared Firetail Finch (187 KB)