Aust birds    Bird names   News   1-26    Habitats    Key plants    Glossary    Plumage    Nests    Tips    Thumbnails    Gen. info    Sponsors    Photos for sale   
NON-PASSERINES     1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10     11     12     13     14 15     16     17     18     19     20     21     22     23     24     25     26     PASSERINES
Common names sorted alphabetically: A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   W   Y  

24

Masked Finch

(Poephila personata)
Alternate name(s): "Masked Grass Finch", "White-eared Finch", "White-eared Grass Finch"
Size: 13.0-13.5 cm (male), 12.5-13.0 cm (female)
Weight: 12-13 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 Masked Finch at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "personata"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Masked Finch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Masked Finch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Masked Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Masked Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Masked Finch (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Lateral view of two Masked Finches (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, December 2015]

Lateral view of a Masked Finch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Masked Finch looking back at the observer (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Timber Creek airport, Timber Creek, NT, November 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Masked Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

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

Comparison of a Masked Finch with a female Gouldian Finch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buchanan Highway, NT, November 2018]

Comparison of a Masked Finch with a female Gouldian Finch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buchanan Highway, NT, November 2018]

Ventral view of a Masked Finch in flight (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buchanan Highway, NT, November 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a Masked Finch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2019]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Masked Finch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2019]

Race "leucotis"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Masked Finch; note the white cheeks that give this race its name (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Cumberland Dam, near Georgetown, QLD, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Masked Finch (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Cumberland Dam, near Georgetown, QLD, July 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Masked Finch (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Cumberland Dam, near Georgetown, QLD, July 2020]

Behaviour

Like all other species of finches known to us, Masked Finches like to bathe.

Masked Finches taking a bath together with a female Gouldian Finch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nackeroo Lookout Road, Timber Creek, NT, November 2018]

Masked Finches taking a bath together with a Banded Honeyeater in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nackeroo Lookout Road, Timber Creek, NT, November 2018]

Food, Diet

Adults: Seeds Dependents: Regurgitated seeds Water intake: Daily

Like all other finches known to us, Masked Finches feed on seeds.

Masked Finch with a liking for grilled nuts (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marrakai track, Top End, NT, July 2019]

Lateral view of a Masked Finch foraging on the ground (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, March 2019]

Masked Finch having a drink of water (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, July 2014]

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.

maskfin_pb_20190709.m4a personata
(Top End, NT)
Chattering (small mob) © PB

More Masked 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.