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Diamond Firetail

(Stagonopleura guttata)
Alternative names: "Firetail Finch", "Beautiful Firetail Finch"
Size: 12-13 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

The range of Diamond Firetails extends from the south-eastern corner of Australia, i.e. Eyre peninsula in SA, and all of VIC, throughout eastern and central NSW (as far west as about Wilcannia), into southern and central QLD, with an eastern boundary close to the georaphical longitude of Cairns, QLD. The northern boundary of their range is Undura Volcanic National Park, QLD. They are not found along the coastline of QLD, down to about the Manning River in NSW, and in two small coastal areas to the east and west of Melbourne, VIC.

Diamond Firetails can be found in various types of forest and woodland, also in heath.

Sightings

Rare guests at the house were we lived until 2006, we have found that Diamond Firetails were permanent residents in a patch of bushland elsewhere on the property, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW.

Also permanent residents on a property in bushland 20 km north of Coonabarabran, NSW.

Spotted by us in January/February 2008 in Deriah Forest and Upper Bullawa Creek, both about 30 km east of Narrabri. There they are also permanent residents; seen also during the winter of 2008.

Photos

Frontal view of a Diamond Firetail hiding in the shade of a tree

More distant view in better light conditions

Diamond Firetail, now from the side

Rear view of a Diamond Firetail, making it clear how it received its name

Diamond Firetail collecting nesting material

The dark bill and the inconspicuous colour pattern indicate that the bird shown here is a very young Diamond Firetail

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - Jan Eggs: 4 - 6 Incubation period: 14 - 15 days Fledging age: 23 days

Nest

Type: Bottle-shaped dome Material: Grass with feather lining Height above ground <10 m

Mistletoe with a Diamond Firetail's nest at its base, about 15 m above ground, high up in a eucalypt tree

Note that it is unusual for a small bird, such as a finch, to have its nest that high. Usually small birds tend to nest in dense, inaccessible areas closer to the ground - even the 10 m listed in the table above are very high for a bird the size of a finch.

Eggs

Size: 18 x 13 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Dispersive/sedentary Elementary unit: Small fLock

All species of finches known to us are highly sociable.

Food

Like all other finches known to us, Diamond Firetails feed on seeds.