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24

Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) Alternate name(s): "Long-tailed Grass-finch", "Black-heart Finch", "Heck's Finch", "Orange-billed Grass Finch", "Shaft-tail Finch" Size: 15-16 cm Weight: 12-16 g

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Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Their long tail makes Long-tailed Finches the largest Australian finches in overall length. They have a bluish-grey head and nape of the neck, with light blue-grey ear coverts and a small black facial mask (lores and eye-rings). The most conspicuous feature is a large black bib. The belly and sides are pale pinkish-grey. They have a black band across the rump and down the flanks and white uppertail and undertail coverts. The rest of the back is dark greyish-brown. The long tail is black. The eyes have dark irises. Race "hecki" has an orange-red bill, while race "acuticauda" has a yellow bill. The legs and feet are pinkish. Juveniles have a black bill, a more brownish-grey head and nape of the neck and darker legs and feet, but otherwise they resemble adults.

Taxonomy, classification See Long-tailed Finch at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Long-tailed Finch is available HERE . There are two races of Long-tailed Finches, both of which are endemic to the tropical North of Australia. Nominate race "acuticauda" is found all across the Kimberley, WA, and the adjoining north-western part of the NT. All through the rest of the Top End of the NT and along the South coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, to about Lagoon Creek and just to the North of Mt. Isa, QLD, race "hecki" resides. Long-tailed Finches have a preference for paperbark and other eucalypt woodland. They are always found near water.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "acuticauda" J. Greaves reports spotting Long-tailed Finches, race "acuticauda", at the Parry Creek Road intersection in Wyndham, WA, in January 2016, where they were nesting at the time. P. Brown reports finding Long-tailed Finches, race "acuticauda", in abundance at Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, in April 2018. M. Eaton found Long-tailed Finches, race "acuticauda", at a waterhole, about 100 km west of Timber Creek, NT, in July 2020. Race "hecki" M. Mearns reports spotting Long-tailed Finches, race "hecki", along the Mataranka to Cape Crawford Road, NT, in July 2010. B. Hensen reports spotting Long-tailed Finches, race "hecki", at Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, in March 2013. We first spotted Long-tailed Finches, race "hecki", at Holmes Jungle Nature Park and at Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, in August 2014. H. Mouritsen reports spotting Long-tailed Finches, race "hecki", along the Edith Creek Road near Katherine, NT, and in Kakadu NP, NT, in October 2015. J. Greaves reports spotting Long-tailed Finches, race "hecki", at the Parry Creek Road intersection in Wyndham, WA, in January 2016, where they were nesting at the time. M. Mearns reports spotting Long-tailed Finches, race "hecki", at Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP, QLD, in July 2016, and another at the Camooweal Caves, QLD, in September 2019. P. Brown found Long-tailed Finches, race "hecki", at Giwining/Flora River NP, NT, in November 2018, and along the Marrakai track, Top End, NT, in July 2019. M. Eaton found Long-tailed Finches, race "hecki", at Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, in July 2020.

Photos

Race "acuticauda"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Long-tailed Finch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Long-tailed Finch on the ground (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Near-frontal view of two Long-tailed Finches (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Long-tailed Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Long-tailed Finch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Lateral view of a Long-tailed Finch on the ground (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Preening Long-tailed Finch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Long-tailed Finch at take-off (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Race "hecki"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Partly obscured near-frontal view of a Long-tailed Finch; note the orange bill which is characteristic of race "hecki"
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Near-lateral view of a Long-tailed Finch (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Lateral view of a Long-tailed Finch looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Long-tailed Finch looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Long-tailed Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Long-tailed Finch
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Dorsal view of a Long-tailed Finch
[Holmes Jungle Nature Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Ventral view of a Long-tailed Finch (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Mataranka to Cape Crawford Road, NT, July 2010]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a Long-tailed Finch; the smudged appearance and the not quite all-red bill may indicate that this bird is just reaching maturity (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Long-tailed Finch; the smudged appearance and the not quite all-red bill may indicate that this bird is just reaching maturity (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of an immature Long-tailed Finch; note the bill that is just starting to turn red (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, May 2020]

Frontal view of a juvenile Long-tailed Finch; note the dark-grey bill (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marrakai track, Top End, NT, July 2019]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jan - Jun

Eggs: 4 - 7

Incubation period: ca. 13 days

Fledging age: 22 days

We have observed at least two pairs of Long-tailed Finches building a nest in August 2014, outside their usual breeding season.

Nest building: Female

Incubation: ?

Dependent care: Female & male

While the female builds the nest, the male collects the nesting material.

Nest

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

Type: Dome

Material: Grass with feather lining

Height above ground ?

Location of a Long-tailed Finch nest in between the two panels of a road sign (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Parry Creek Road turnoff, Wyndham, WA, January 2016]

Here the same Long-tailed Finch nest seen from below (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Parry Creek Road turnoff, Wyndham, WA, January 2016]

Long-tailed Finch sentry guarding its nest in between the two panels of a road sign (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Parry Creek Road turnoff, Wyndham, WA, January 2016]

Long-tailed Finch nest (under construction) in a pandanus plant
[Holmes Jungle Nature Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Frontal view of a male Long-tailed Finch collecting nesting material
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Male Long-tailed Finch bringing nesting material
[Holmes Jungle Nature Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Female Long-tailed Finch pulling the nesting material into place from inside the nest
[Holmes Jungle Nature Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Male Long-tailed Finch looking from outside how the nest is shaping up
[Holmes Jungle Nature Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

This is how and where one enters this pair of Long-tailed Finches' nest
[Holmes Jungle Nature Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Eggs

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

Size: 16 x 12 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Tapered oval

A look into the Long-tailed Finch nest shown above reveals the presence of 2 eggs, suggesting that the female was still in the process of laying eggs (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Parry Creek Road turnoff, Wyndham, WA, January 2016]

Close-up view of 2 Long-tailed Finch eggs (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Parry Creek Road turnoff, Wyndham, WA, January 2016]

Behaviour

Like all species of finches known to us, Long-tailed Finches love taking a bath.

Long-tailed Finch taking a bath (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP, QLD, July 2016]

Two Long-tailed Finches enjoying some time off their incubating duties at the local spa (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Parry Creek Road turnoff, Wyndham, WA, January 2016]

Soaking wet Long-tailed Finch in the bathtub (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Camooweal Caves, QLD, September 2019]

Pair of Long-tailed Finch enjoying some time off their incubating duties at the local spa (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Kununurra, WA, January 2016]

Food, Diet

Adults: Seeds

Dependents: Regurgitated seeds

Water intake: Daily

Like all other finches known to us, Long-tailed Finches feed on seeds.

Long-tailed Finch feeding on grass seeds (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Masked Finch, left, and Long-tailed Finch, right, foraging in a recently burnt area (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Marrakai track, NT, August 2012]

Frontal view from above onto a Long-tailed Finch, left, drinking water together with a Star Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

Frontal view from above onto a Long-tailed Finch, left, drinking water together with a juvenile Yellow-rumped Mannikin
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Long-tailed Finch having a drink (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

3 species of finches drinking together: Juvenile Yellow-rumped Mannikins, Star Finches and a Long-tailed Finch
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

3 species of finches drinking together: Juvenile Yellow-rumped Mannikins, Star Finches and a Long-tailed Finch
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

Long-tailed Finch approaching a puddle in a roadside ditch for a drink and a bath (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Road to Giwining/Flora River NP, NT, November 2018]

Long-tailed Finch drinking water from a bucket (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Mataranka to Cape Crawford Road, NT, July 2010]

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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Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Mon, 14 September 2020, 3:30 +00:00