Long-tailed Finch

Poephila acuticauda

A charming songbird with an elegant, pencil-thin tail found across northern Australia's grasslands and woodland edges.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Long-tailed Finch is a small, elegant bird with a distinctive long, pointed tail. Its body is predominantly pale pinkish grey-brown, with a white rump and underparts. The face features a striking black 'bib' extending from the beak to the chest.

Both sexes look mostly similar, with either a yellow or orange beak, orange legs, and a black tail. Females may sometimes be duller overall with smaller bibs, and have shorter wings and tails.

Juveniles have duller plumage and lack the black bib, which develops as they mature. The varying bill colour distinguishes the subspecies, with the western group having yellow beaks and the eastern having red.

Size

Length

15cm to 17cm

Wingspan

18cm to 20cm

Weight

12g to 17g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey White

Secondary Colour

Black Brown

Beak Colour

Yellow Orange

Leg Colour

Orange

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Long-tailed Finch is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Long-tailed Finch is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Long-tailed Finch is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Long-tailed Finch is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Long-tailed Finch is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Long-tailed Finch is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Long-tailed Finch can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Long-tailed Finch is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Long-tailed Finch is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Long-tailed Finch is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Long-tailed Finch is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Long-tailed Finch can be found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Long-tailed Finches are native to northern Australia, inhabiting tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs, and open woodlands. They are particularly common in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

These finches prefer areas with a mix of grasses and scattered trees, often near water sources. Their distribution remains relatively stable throughout the year, with no significant seasonal movements.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Long-tailed Finch. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons