Photo: Dominic Sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-throated Finch
Poephila cincta
Black-throated Finch (Poephila cincta) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-throated Finch (Poephila cincta) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 14.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Poephila
- Species cincta
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14.9 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-throated Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black-throated Finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-throated Finch (Poephila cincta) is a member of the Estrildidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU n QLD (ne, e Australia).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.9 g, with a wing length of about 5.9 cm and a tail of around 3.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 496,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-throated Finch?
The Black-throated Finch is a very small bird that weighs around 14.9 g.
Where does the Black-throated Finch live?
The Black-throated Finch is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU n QLD (ne, e Australia), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-throated Finch belong to?
The Black-throated Finch (Poephila cincta) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-throated Finch eat?
The Black-throated Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-throated Finch migrate?
The Black-throated Finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-throated Finch endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-throated Finch make?
1 real field recording of the Black-throated Finch — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-throated Finch's range?
The Black-throated Finch has a mapped global range of about 496,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.