Black-throated Finch

Originally described by ornithologist John Gould in 1837, its specific epithet is Latin cincta girdled.

The Black-throated Finch is classified as Near Threatened (NT), is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.

The Black-throated finch is a small (to 12cm), sleek and stocky bird. They have a thick, black bill and a black eye line which makes them appear to be wearing "wrap around sunglasses". They have a pale blue-grey head, cinnamon-brown body, black tail and black "bib" which extends down to the breast, earning them the nick-name "Parson Finch". TWO KINDS OF BLACK-THROATED FINCHES = There are two sub-species of the Black-throated Finch. More

The Black-throated Finch (Poephila cincta), or Parson Finch, is a species of estrildid finch found in grassy woodlands throughout north-east Australia from Cape York Peninsula to north-east New South Wales. It is declining and its habitat is threatened by development. Contents - * 1 Taxonomy * 1. More

A black-throated finch (Melanodera melanodera), perched in undergrowth, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands. Photographed by Ellen Goff. More

The Black-throated Finch (Poephila cincta cincta) is also known as the Parson Finch. Its range stretches from Cape York Peninsula to northern New South Wales in Australia. It is endangered in its natural habitat. These finches favor eucalypt woodland and riverside vegetation, including paperbark and wattle shrubland, and can frequently be found in the area close to water with a dense understorey of seeding grass and shrubs. Description This small stocky finch averages 10.63 cm / 4. More

Black-throated Finch currently occurs in coastal northern Queensland and inland central Queensland. The northern subspecies occurs in northern Queensland from the Atherton Tablelands in the south to the Cape York Peninsula in the north and to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the west. Historically there was a broad region of interbreeding and intergradation between the northern and southern subspecies along the Burdekin-Lynd Divide in a broad band west-southwest. 2. More

The Black-throated Finch is widespread around the Falklands, but generally prefers coastal regions. Only the male has the striking blue-grey head and black facial markings, the female being much drabber and not unlike a female House Sparrow. Nests are made from fine grass lined with down, and hidden amongst ground vegetation or in crevices. Three to four eggs are laid between September and December, and at least two broods per season are common. More

Black-throated Finches are known to have hybridised with the Zebra Finch, Double-barred Finch, Masked Finch, Long-tailed Finch,Spice Finch, Cut- throat Finch, Red-headed Parrot-finch, Bengalese Finch and White-headed Munia, so keep an eye on them if they are showing signs of misbehaviour in your mixed collection. In the wild their diet consists of ripe and half-ripe grass seeds, fortified with small insects, ants and spiders. In captivity, a good quality finch seed mix should be the mainstay of the diet. More

The Black-throated Finch is on the Endangered Species List of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act. Incredible Photo of a Black-throated Finch by M&I's Bird Room The Parson Finch by Kerri McCoy On the list of Threatened Australian Birds, the Black-throated Finch is listed as "vulnerable". See also, The Australian Bird Study Association Newletter. More

The Black-throated Finch is the correct common name for this species. The white rumped race is commonly called the Parson Finch, P.c.cincta, whereas the black rumped form is known as the Diggles Parson, P. c. atropygialis. There is also what is known as the Chocolate Parson, P. c. nigrotecta where the overall colour of the bird is much darker and this is seen in both the nominate races – Parson Finch and the Diggles Parsons. More

The Black-throated Finch has two subspecies, with intermediate forms found between the two. * Poephila cincta cincta is a white-rumped form found south of Townsville * Poephila cincta atropygialis is a black-rumped form found north of Cairns, and is possibly extending its range southwards. More