Finches as small colourful birds that eat seeds. They are birds from Waxbills, Grass-Finch and Mannikins groups, of the Estrildidae family. Grass-finches have long tails while Mannikins are more robust. Finches are social and can often be found in flocks. Finches have distinct colours and are lively in behaviour. Australian finches have become popular aviary birds across the world. Finches can live for up to 7 years.
Gouldian Finches were once common across northern Australia; now only 2,500 exist in the wild living in flocks of less than 100 birds. Gouldian finches can still be found in the Kimberley; however they are threatened by changed fire regime.
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Key characteristics to look for when identifying species:
Colour and pattern
Shape of body
Length of tail
Shape and colour of bill
There are 11 finches found in the Kimberley.Ear opening
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Painted Finch
Emblema pictum
Size: 10-12 cm
Distinguishing features: Red face, chin,
mid belly and rump; Brown head and
back; Flanks black and spotted with white; Long bill with red tip; and Female is duller in face with larger white spots.
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Habitat: Mainly stony hills also gorges and spinifex.
Distribution: Central WA, NT and SA.
Call: Harsh ‘trut….’
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au
www.canetoads.com.au
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Endangered
© Save the Gouldian Fund |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Gouldian Finch
Erythrura gouldiae
Size: 14 cm
Distinguishing features: Bright grass
green along back with blue rump; Purple
chest and yellow abdomen; Black tail; Face black, can also be red or yellow; White bill with red tip; and Females are duller, more olive. |
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Habitat: Open woodland and grassland.
Distribution: Kimberley, northern NT and QLD.
Status: Endangered, threat changed fire regime.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia” |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Pictorella Mannikin
Heteromunia pectoralis
Size: 11 cm
Distinguishing features: Black mask with
thick blue bill; Reddish brown body with
white breast mottled black; White spots on wings; Yellow and black tail; Females have brownish black face, |
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more black on breast; Juvenile has dark bill and is grey.
Habitat: Woodland and tussock grassland.
Distribution: Kimberley, NT and QLD.
Call: Loud, “…teeet….” Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Chestnut breasted Mannikin
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Finches 4 |
© Mel Mitchell
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Chestnut breasted Mannikin
Lonchura castaneothorax
Size: 10 cm
Distinguishing features: Solid finch;
Black face and chin; Thick silver grey bill;
Brown back; Orange rump and light yellow tail; Bright chestnut breast; white abdomen with black band; Female is
paler; Juvenile has black bill and olive
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brown.
Habitat: Reed beds.
Distribution: Kimberley, NT, QLD and NSW.
Call: Like a bell “….teeet….”
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
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Yellow-rumped Mannikin
Lonchura flaviprymna
Size: 10 cm
Distinguishing features: Solid finch;
Thick greyish bill; Head pale grey; Back
and wings brown; Cream underside; Yellow brown rump and tail; Black undertail; Juvenile has black bill and paler underside.
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Habitat: Reed beds and tall crops.
Distribution: East Kimberley to Darwin.
Call: Like a bell “….teeet….”
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Finches 6 |
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Male
© James Adam |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Crimson Finch
Neochmia phaeton
Size: 12-14 cm
Distinguishing features: Slender;
Upright; Deep crimson beak, face,
abdomen and tail; Flicks long tail; Fine white spots
on flanks; Male darker red; Female and juvenile more brown/red.
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Habitat: Watercourses, tall reeds/grass, Pandanus, cane fields, drainage channels.
Distribution: Kimberley, northern NT and QLD.
Call: Piercing tick “che…che..che”
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
www.canetoads.com.au |
| COMMUNITY PHOTO |
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finches 7 |
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Star Finch
Neochmia ruficauda subclarescens
Size: 10-12 cm
Distinguishing features: Red face and
Chin; Olive back and yellow-olive
Underside; Chest, rump, flanks and tail finely
spotted with white; Female only has red on cheeks and chin; Juveniles paler with black bill. |
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Habitat: Grasslands.
Distribution: Kimberley and northern NT. Sub-Species in QLD, NSW.
Call: Piercing “seeet”
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Long-tailed Finch or Blackheart Finch
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Finches 8 |
© Mel Mitchell
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Long-tailed Finch or Blackheart Finch
Poephila acuticauda
Size: 15-16 cm
Distinguishing features: Bill varies from
yellow to red; Body fawn/tan with
powder blue head; Black between eyes
and beak (lores); Black bib; Long sharply tapered tail; White rump (seen in flight); and Pink/orange legs.
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Habitat: Eucalypt spinifex grasslands; woodlands near creeks.
Distribution: Kimberley, Northern NT, NW QLD.
Call: High pitch soft “pssssst”, long, loud whistle.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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© Andrew Walton |
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Masked Finch
Poephila personata
Size: 12 – 13.5 cm
Distinguishing features: Heavy, waxy
yellow bill; Black face and chin; Light
brown back with lighter abdomen;
White rump with long black tail; Flicks tail; and Female has less black on chin |
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and shorter tail.
Habitat: Eucalypt and Melaleuca paperbark woodland.
Distribution: Kimberley, northern NT and northern QLD.
Call: Soft song, long ‘tiat and soft ‘tet.’
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Finches 10 |
© Ray Lanaghan
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Double barred Finch
Taeniopygia bichenovii
Size: 10-11 cm
Distinguishing features: Brownish grey
and white; bill blue/grey; black wings
spotted; black tail; white underneath; distinct with
two narrow black bands above and below chest and white face.
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Habitat: Varied; open forest to grasslands and beside creeks. Common in backyards.
Distribution: Kimberley, NT, QLD and NSW.
Call: Nasal whine “tiaah…tiaah.”
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Finches 11 |
Male
© Katrina Nissen
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Zebra Finch
Taeniopygia guttata
Size: 10 cm
Distinguishing features: White rump
with zebra-barred tail; black and white
rear stripes on tail; male orange ear patch and paler abdomen; female grey/tan abdomen; and Juvenile has dark beak.
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Habitat: Open savanna.
Call: similar to T. bichenovii (Double Barred Finch) not as high. pitch; nasal twang ”tiaaah….tiaaah”
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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