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24

Double-barred Finch

(Taeniopygia bichenovii)
Alternate 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
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Double-barred Finch at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "bichenovii"

Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a look here .

ADULT

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]

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"

ADULT

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]

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]

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

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 .

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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.