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Double-barred FinchAlternative names: "Banded Finch", "Double-bar", "White-rumped Double-bar", "White-rumped Banded Finch", "Owl-faced Finch", "Bicheno's Finch", "Black-ringed Finch" Size: 10-11 cm Weight: 10 g (average) |
SUBSECTIONS:
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
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Taxonomy, classification |
See Double-barred Finch
at Wikipedia 
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Click here to display information on habitat,
range and finding this species
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Sightings |
At the place where we lived in 2003-2006, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, Double-barred Finches, race "bichenovii", visited us regularly in flocks of 10 to 20. They are a gregarious little bunch that searched for seeds in the lawn and paddocks around the house. Seen regularly also in the adjacent Pilliga scrub.
Click here to display more sighting
information
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Photos |
Race "bichenovii"
Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a
look here 
.
Frontal view of a Double-barred Finch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]
Near-frontal view of a Double-barred Finch checking out the area
before moving in for a drink from a water bowl
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, September 2006]
Near-frontal view of two Double-barred Finches (photo courtesy of
C. Hayne)
Lateral view of a Double-barred Finch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]
Double-barred Finch seen in bright sunlight
[Deriah Forest, NSW, February 2009]
Close-up shot of a Double-barred Finch feeding on the ground
This dorsal view of a Double-barred Finch shows how glossy the
plumage can appear with the sunlight at a certain angle
[Deriah Forest, NSW, March 2009]
Dorsal view of a Double-barred Finch, different angle
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]
Pair of Double-barred Finches; photo courtesy of R. Druce
[Leard State Forest, near Maules Creek, NSW, October 2012]
"The seven dwarfs" - Double-barred Finches huddled together at
the end of a cold night
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, August 2006]
Double-barred Finches on our lawn - sometimes up to 50 are
observed together, especially when grass seeds are available
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]
Double-barred Finch approaching a waterhole
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, December 2011]
Double-barred Finch taking a good mouthful
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, December 2011]
Double-barred Finch taking a bath
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, December 2011]
A bunch of Double-barred Finches coming in for a drink
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, May 2011]
Immature Double-barred Finch moulting into its adult plumage
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, March 2013]
Near-frontal view of a fledgling Double-barred Finch
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, January 2012]
Dorsal view of the same fledgling Double-barred Finch as shown above
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, January 2012]
Close-up portrait of the same fledgling Double-barred Finch as shown above
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, January 2012]
Comparison between a Double-barred Finch and a Red-browed Finch
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, February 2013]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Jul - May | Eggs: 4 - 6 | Incubation period: 12 - 14 days | Fledging age: 21 days |
Given the right conditions, Double-barred Finches can breed any time of the year.
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "malunna" = Nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Dome basket | Material: Grass with feather lining | Height above ground 1 - 5 m |
Double-barred Finch collecting nesting material
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, September 2011]
Double-barred Finch nest in a Californian pepper tree
[Maules Creek, NSW, September 2011]
Look into a Double-barred Finch nest with three chicks
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, September 2011]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "nooluk" "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 16 x 11 mm | Colour: White | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Dispersive | Elementary unit: FLock |
All species of finches known to us are highly sociable.
Double-barred Finch looking out of its hideaway in dense growth
along the side of a gravel road
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, March 2013]
Double-barred Finches belong to those birds that squat in a pool to take a bath and then wiggle their wings to spatter themselves with water.
Double-barred Finches taking a bath
[Deriah Forest, NSW, 2007]
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Food, Diet |
| Adults: Seeds | Dependents: Regurgitated seeds | Water intake: Daily |
Like all other finches known to us, Double-barred Finches feed on seeds. These include grass seeds and seeds of reeds.
When seeing a Double-barred Finch clinging to a wild sunflower
stem, one may be misled into believing that it is after the
sunflower's seeds, but these are too large for finches; instead,
the bird shown in the photo used the sunflower to gain access to
grass seeds below
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]
Two Double-barred Finches nibbling on grass seeds
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, June 2012]
