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Double-barred Finch

(Taeniopygia bichenovii)
Alternative names: "Banded Finch", "Double-bar", "White-rumped Double-bar", "White-rumped Banded Finch", "Owl-faced Finch", "Bicheno's Finch"
Size: 10-11 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

There are two races of Double-barred Finches in Australia. Nominate race "bichenovii" is found in eastern NSW and QLD, from almost exactly the NSW/VIC border northwards, as far west as about Bourke, NSW and Barcaldine, QLD. up to almost the tip of Cape York peninsula. They are not found at the very tip of Cape York and a narrow coastal margin from about Cooktown, QLD, to Townsville, QLD. Their range extends further westward along the southern end of the Gulf of Carpentaria to the border of QLD with the NT. From the QLD/NT border westwards, throughout the top end of the NT and the Kimberleys in WA, including some offshore islands along the north coast, race "annulosa" is found.

Double-barred Finches can be found in a variety of habitats, from open grassland to scrub and open forest, also in roadside vegetation.

Sightings

At the place where we lived in 2003-2006, Double-barred Finches 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.

Although they only occasionally stay at the place where we live since 2007, 20 km east of Narrabri, we have found them to be permanent residents in the adjacent bushland, on the fringes of Mount Kaputar National Park. There we see and hear them regularly, also during the winter months.

Seen and heard by us regularly also in other parts of the Great Dividing Range, e.g. in the area of Maules Creek, Barraba and Manilla, NSW.

Very easily identified by their call and appearance. Note that the breast and belly below the upper black bar are not white, but a light cream colour, as can be seen quite clearly in several photos below.

Photos

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Frontal view of a Double-barred Finch

Near-frontal view of a Double-barred Finch checking out the area before moving in for a drink from a water bowl

Lateral view of a Double-barred Finch

Here a bird seen in bright sunlight

Close-up shot of a Double-barred Finch feeding on the ground

This view of the back of a bird shows how glossy the plumage can appear with the sunlight at a certain angle

View from behind at a different angle

"The seven dwarfs" - Double-barred Finches huddled together at the end of a cold night in August 2006

Double-barred Finches on our lawn - sometimes up to 50 are observed together, especially when grass seeds are available

Double-barred Finch approaching a waterhole...

... and here seen taking a good mouthful

Double-barred Finch taking a bath

A bunch of birds coming in for a drink

Near-frontal view of a fledgling Double-barred Finch (photo courtesy of R. Drcue)

Dorsal view of the same bird as shown above (photo courtesy of R. Drcue)

Close-up portrait of the same fledgling bird as shown above (photo courtesy of R. Drcue)

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.

Nest

Type: Dome basket Material: Grass with feather lining Height above ground 1 - 5 m

Double-barred Finch collecting nesting material (photo courtesy of R. Drcue)

Double-barred Finch nest in a Californian pepper tree

Here a look into a Double-barred Finch nest with three chicks (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Eggs

Size: 16 x 11 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Dispersive Elementary unit: FLock

All species of finches known to us are highly sociable.

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

Food

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