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Double-barred FinchAlternate name(s): "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: 8-11 g |
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Photos |
Race "bichenovii"
Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a
look here .
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ADULT |
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PAIR |
Close-up near-frontal view of a pair of Double-barred Finches
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2023]
Near-frontal view of a pair of Double-barred Finches
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Lateral view of Double-barred Finches
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, Febuary 2017]
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of an adult Double-barred Finch showing
how the species received its name as "Owl-faced Finch"
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, November 2013]
Frontal view of a Double-barred Finch looking sideways
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, March 2016]
Near-frontal view of a Double-barred Finch looking sideways
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]
Near-frontal view of a Double-barred Finch looking sideways
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, December 2020]
Near-lateral 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]
Close-up near-frontal view of a preening Double-barred Finch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2023]
Lateral view of a Double-barred Finch
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, December 2020]
Lateral view of a Double-barred Finch checking out the observer
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]
Close-up lateral shot of a Double-barred Finch feeding on the ground
Lateral view of a Double-barred Finch; note the white rump which is
characteristic of race "bichenovii"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2014]
Lateral view of a Double-barred Finch
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, February 2022]
This near-dorsal view of a Double-barred Finch shows how glossy the
plumage
can appear
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2009]
Near-dorsal view of a Double-barred Finch, different angle
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]
Dorsal view of a Double-barred Finch
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, December 2020]
Double-barred Finches on our lawn - sometimes up to 50 were
observed together, especially when grass seeds are available
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]
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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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Juvenile 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]
Race "annulosa"
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ADULT |
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PAIR |
Near-lateral view of a pair of Double-barred Finches
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buchanan Highway, NT, November 2018]
Lateral view of Double-barred Finches foraging on the ground
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, March 2019]
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of an adult Double-barred Finch; this full-frontal view
shows how the species received its name as "Owl-faced Finch"
[Fogg Dam NR,
NT, August 2014]
Near-frontal view of a Double-barred Finch
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, April 2017]
Lateral view of a Double-barred Finch
[Fogg Dam NR,
NT, August 2014]
Lateral view of a Double-barred Finch from slightly above, providing
a clear view of the black rump characteristic of race "annulosa"
[Fogg Dam NR,
NT, August 2014]
Dorsal view of a Double-barred Finch
[Fogg Dam NR,
NT, August 2014]
Double-barred Finch in comparison with a
Peaceful Dove
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2019]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Near-lateral view of a juvenile Double-barred Finch; note the
pronounced grey chest between the two bars and the absence of
tail feathers
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, June 2018]
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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.
A. Morris reports that Double-barred Finches like nesting near nests of paper wasps.
Nest building: Male & female? | Incubation: Female & male | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Dome | Material: Grass with feather lining | Height above ground 1 - 5 m |
Double-barred Finch at its nest
(photo courtesy P. Brown)
[Nitmiluk NP,
near Katherine, NT, September 2020]
Double-barred Finch nest in a
casuarina tree
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2018]
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]
Double-barred Finch working on its nest
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nakara, Darwin, NT, December 2019]
Double-barred Finch collecting nesting material
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, September 2011]
This attempt by a pair of Double-barred Finches to build a
nest had to be adandoned...
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nakara, Darwin, NT, October 2019]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 16 x 11 mm | Colour: White | Shape: Tapered oval |
View inside a Double-barred Finch nest with 7 eggs in it
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Kingaroy, QLD, April 2020]
Look into an abandoned Double-barred Finch nest with four eggs inside
[Near Narrabri, NSW, August 2018]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Dispersive | Elementary unit: FLock |
All species of finches known to us are highly sociable.
Some Double-barred Finche "TLC"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2023]
"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 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 Finch taking a bath
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, December 2011]
Double-barred Finches taking a bath
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, 2007]
Double-barred Finches preening after a bath
[Killarney SCA,
NSW, November 2019]
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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 primarily 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]
Lateral view of a Double-barred Finch feeding on seeds
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, February 2022]
Two Double-barred Finches nibbling on
grass seeds
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, June 2012]
This photo suggests that Double-barred Finches do not only take
seeds, but also fresh shoots of shrubs
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[The Spit, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2015]
Frontal view of a Double-barred Finch taking a flying ant
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, December 2020]
Frontal view of a Double-barred Finch with the body of a
flying ant stuck to its bill
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, December 2020]
Lateral view of a Double-barred Finch foraging in
grass
not for seeds, but waiting for flying ants to rise from
the ground
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, December 2020]
Lateral view of a Double-barred Finch with a flying ant
it has just caught
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, December 2020]
Especially outside the breeding season Double-barred Finches
can be seen feeding in flocks; here a small part of a flock
of nearly 100 birds feeding on grass seeds
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2016]
Lateral view of a small mob of Double-barred Finches
foraging on the ground (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, October 2017]
A bunch of Double-barred Finches coming in for a drink
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, May 2011]
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 Finches and
Peaceful Doves
at a man-made waterhole
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2019]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
dbfinch_20190228.m4a |
bichenovii (NW NSW) |
Contact calls | © MD | |
dbfinch_20191004.m4a |
bichenovii (NW NSW) |
Contact calls | © MD | |
dbfinch_20140817_2.m4a |
annulosa (Top End, NT) |
Contact call | © MD | |
dbfinch_20140817.m4a |
annulosa (Top End, NT) |
Various | © MD | |
dbfinch_20140817_3.m4a |
annulosa (Top End, NT) |
Various + departure | © MD | |
dbfinch_20140817_4.m4a |
annulosa (Top End, NT) |
Unsettled | © MD |
More Double-barred Finch sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.