Photo: Lip Kee Yap from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Long-tailed Finch
Poephila acuticauda
Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 14 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 acuticauda
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Long-tailed Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Long-tailed Finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) is a species of bird in the Estrildidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU nw to nc Australia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14 g, with a wing length of about 5.9 cm and a tail of around 8.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 845,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Long-tailed Finch?
The Long-tailed Finch is a very small bird that weighs around 14 g.
Where does the Long-tailed Finch live?
The Long-tailed Finch is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU nw to nc Australia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Long-tailed Finch belong to?
The Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Long-tailed Finch eat?
The Long-tailed Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Long-tailed Finch migrate?
The Long-tailed Finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Long-tailed 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 Long-tailed Finch make?
1 real field recording of the Long-tailed Finch — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Long-tailed Finch's range?
The Long-tailed Finch has a mapped global range of about 845,000 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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