Double-barred Finch
Black-throated Finch
Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii , Black-throated Finch Poephila cincta
What do they look like ? Small birds , about 10 cm long with short , wedge-shaped bills . Double-barred Finch has two black bands across a white chest , a white face and white-spotted wings . Black-throated Finch is a cinnamon brown bird with obvious black throat , blue-grey head , black tail and white rump ( south ) or black rump ( north ).
Where do they live ? Double-barred Finches favour woodland to open forest with some lower shrubs . Black-throated Finches favour open Poplar Gum , Ironbark and Melaleuca woodlands with sparse grass cover . Double-barred Finches occur across the region , while Black-throated Finches are more restricted . The southern form of Black-throated Finch is endangered and has disappeared from much of its former range .
What do they need to live , eat and breed ? All are granivores , taking most seed off the ground , and occasionally landing on grass heads to eat seed . They need a year-round seed supply , which means a wide range of grass species that seed at different times and whose seed can remain viable on the ground for some time . Nests are a round ball of grass , usually in low woody vegetation ( Double-barred Finch ) or high in tree hollows ( Black-throated Finch ).
When might I see ( or hear ) them ? Early morning around watering points in dry weather as they congregate to drink and bath . Their soft , high pitched calls are often the first sign of their presence . Double-barred Finches are sometimes seen foraging about domestic fowl pens and aviaries .
What management actions affect this species ? Double-barred Finches and Black-throated Finches disappear in the face of clearing , cropping and urbanisation . Maintain vegetation for nesting ( tall tree and shrub layer ) and feeding ( diverse and vigorous native grass layer ). Grazing systems which incorporate wet season spelling and allow grasses to set seed are beneficial . A patchwork of grazing and fire regimes will help maintain finch diversity .
How do they benefit the land I manage ? As with many seed eaters , they help spread and germinate some perennial grass seeds through topsoil disturbance or direct transportation of seed stuck onto feet or feathers . They can also reduce single grass species dominance through seed consumption .
Similar species . Zebra Finches ( Taeniopygia guttata ), more common in drier or cleared country . Chestnut-breasted Mannikin ( Lonchura castaneothorax ).
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