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24

Black-throated Finch

(Poephila cincta)
Alternate name(s): "Parson Finch", "Black-throat", "Diggle's Finch", "Black-rumped Finch", "Black-tailed Finch"
Size: 9-11 cm
Weight: 13-16 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Black-throated Finch at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "cincta"

ADULT

MALE

Full-frontal view of a male Black-throated Finch; note the characteristic large black throat patch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Frontal view of a male Black-throated Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Frontal view of a male Black-throated Finch (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Mareeba Wetlands, near Mareeba, QLD, July 2013]

Near-frontal view of a male Black-throated Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Near-lateral view of a male Black-throated Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Near-lateral view of a male Black-throated Finch (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Mareeba Wetlands, near Mareeba, QLD, July 2013]

Near-lateral view of a male Black-throated Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a male Black-throated Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Black-throated Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Frontal view of a female Black-throated Finch with its head turned (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Mareeba Wetlands, near Mareeba, QLD, July 2013]

Two Black-throated Finches in a dead tree; the relatively small throat patches compared with the birds shown above indicate that they are both females (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Mareeba Wetlands, near Mareeba, QLD, July 2013]

Two female Black-throated Finches; slightly different postures (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Mareeba Wetlands, near Mareeba, QLD, July 2013]

Near-lateral view of a female Black-throated Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Lateral view of a female Black-throated Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

PAIR

Frontal/ventral view of a pair of Black-throated Finches; male on the left, female on the right (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Frontal/ventral view of a pair of Black-throated Finches; male on the left, female on the right (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Sex unknown

Near-dorsal view of a Black-throated Finch, showing clearly the white rump characteristic of race "cincta" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Dorsal view of a Black-throated Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Black-throated Finches checking out a juvenile White-throated Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Race "atropygialis"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a small mob of Black-throated Finches (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP, QLD, September 2020]

Dorsal view of a Black-throated Finch (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP, QLD, July 2016]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Apr Eggs: 4 - 7 Incubation period: 12 - 14 days Fledging age: ca. 21 days

Nest building: Female & male Incubation: ? Dependent care: Female & male

The male Black-throated Finch will propose a nest site, but the female needs to give it the stamp of approval.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Dome Material: Grass stems with soft lining Height above ground < 10 m

Instead of the "standard" domed nest with side entrance spout, Black-throated Finches may build their nest into the base of a raptor's nest or into a tree hollow or an arboreal termite mound.

Male Black-throated Finch working on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Pair of Black-throated Finches working on their nest together (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Black-throated Finch carrying nest material (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 17 x 13 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Food, Diet

Like other finches, Black-throated Finches are primarily seed-eaters, but they will take greens from grasses as well.

Frontal view of a female Black-throated Finch taking grass seeds (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oak Valley NR, Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Near-dorsal view of two Black-throated Finches drinking water (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP, QLD, September 2020]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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