Double-barred finch

Double-barred finch
File:Double-barred finch 8066-2.jpg
At the Gregory River, Queensland, Australia
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Estrildidae
Genus:	Taeniopygia
Species:	T. bichenovii
Binomial name
Taeniopygia bichenovii (Vigors and Horsfield, 1827)

The double-barred finch (Taeniopygia bichenovii) is an estrildid finch found in dry savannah, tropical (lowland) dry grassland and shrubland habitats in northern and eastern Australia. They are sometimes referred to as Bicheno's finch; and also as owl finch, owing to the dark ring of feathers around their faces.

The name of the species commemorates James Ebenezer Bicheno, a colonial secretary of Van Diemen's Land appointed in September 1842.

Subspecies

There are two sub-species:

• Taeniopygia bichenovii bichenovii
• Taeniopygia bichenovii annulosa

Characteristics

This is a 10–11 cm long munia-like finch with a white face bordered with black, brown upperparts and throat, and white underparts. The throat and underparts are separated by another black line. The wings are patterned in brown and white. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller and browner. A less common sub-species with brown or black underparts is known to exist. The call is a soft tet or a louder peew, and the song is a soft fluting.

These gregarious seed-eating birds build their nests in grass, a bush or low tree, and lay four eggs.

Origin

Origin and phylogeny has been obtained by Antonio Arnaiz-Villena et al. Estrildinae may have originated in India and dispersed thereafter (towards Africa and Pacific Ocean habitats).

Gallery

• Double-barred Finch RWD2.jpg
• Double-barred finch444.jpg
• Taeniopygia bichenovii -Bees Creek, Northern Territory, Australia-8a (1).jpg

  Bees Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

• Double-barred Finch94.ogg

  South-east Queensland, Australia

• Double-barred-finch444.jpg

  Northern Territory, Australia

References

• Finches and Sparrows by Clement, Harris and Davis, ISBN 0-7136-8017-2

External links

• Video of double-barred finches