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Black-throated FinchAlternate name(s): "Parson Finch", "Black-throat", "Diggle's Finch", "Black-rumped Finch", "Black-tailed Finch" Size: 9-11 cm Weight: 13-16 g |
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Photos |
Race "cincta"
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ADULT |
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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]
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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]
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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"
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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]
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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.
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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]
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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 |
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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]