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24

Red-eared Firetail

(Stagonopleura oculata)
Alternate name(s): "Red-eared Firetail Finch", "Red-eared Finch"; Misnomer: "Zebra Finch*"
Aboriginal name(s): "boorin", "dwerdengolngani", "djiri"

Size: 11-13 cm
Weight: 12-15 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 Red-eared Firetail at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Red-eared Firetail; note the high colour contrast in the facial mask (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a male Red-eared Firetail; note the scarlet patches on the ear coverts (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Balingup, WA, May 2016]

Close-up near-lateral view of a male Red-eared Firetail (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Moses Rock, WA, December 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red-eared Firetail (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Moses Rock, WA, December 2016]

Lateral view of a male Red-eared Firetail (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a male Red-eared Firetail (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Balingup, WA, May 2016]

Lateral view of a male Red-eared Firetail, now seen preening (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Balingup, WA, May 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a male Red-eared Firetail (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Moses Rock, WA, December 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a male Red-eared Firetail, now seen preening (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Balingup, WA, May 2016]

FEMALE

Frontal portrait of a female Red-eared Firetail; note the comparatively pale bill and patches on the ear coverts
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Moses Rock, WA, December 2016]

Frontal view of a female Red-eared Firetail (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Near-lateral view of a female(?) Red-eared Firetail (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Stirling Range NP, WA, August 2018]

Lateral view of a female(?) Red-eared Firetail (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Stirling Range NP, WA, August 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a female Red-eared Firetail (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Clan of Red-eared Firetails in a dead shrub; the bird on the lower left is probably a female (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Moses Rock, WA, December 2016]

Sex unknown

Dorsal view of a Red-eared Firetail (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a sub-adult Red-eared Firetail; note the absence of the prominent frontal spots and red spot behind the eye, while this bird does not have the brownish colours and dark bill of a juvenile (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Cheynes Beach, Albany, WA, February 2018]

Lateral view of a juvenile Red-eared Firetail; note the still dark bill and the absence of both facial markings and the red spot behind the ear (photo courtesy of J. Ovenden)
[Denmark, WA, December 2017]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Jan Eggs: 4 - 6 Incubation period: 12 - 14 days Fledging age: 21 - 24 days

Usually most of the breeding is done in October/November, but it is more extended if/when two broods are brought up.

Nest building: Male & female Incubation: Female & male Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

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

Type: Dome Material: Root fibres, grass stems, twigs, webs Height above ground: 2 - 15 m

Red-eared Firetail near the entrance to its nest (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Balingup, WA, May 2016]

Eggs

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

Size: 18 x 12 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a Red-eared Firetail peeling seeds (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a Red-eared Firetail peeling seeds (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Red-eared Firetail on a water bowl (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Cheynes Beach, Albany, WA, June 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Red-eared Firetail scooping up water (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Cheynes Beach, Albany, WA, June 2020]

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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