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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Estrildidae
  4. ›
  5. Poephila
  6. ›
  7. Black-throated Finch
Black-throated Finch
Photo · Broinowski, Gracius J.

BirdUp · Species

Black-throated Finch

Poephila cincta(Gould, 1837)

Updated 21 March 2026

Conservation status: EndangeredOrigin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Estrildidae
Genus
Poephila

At a glance

The Black-throated Finch is a tiny bird, about 12 cm long, listed as Endangered and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
12 cm
Conservation status
Endangered
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Rare
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Black-throated Finch look like?

The Black-throated Finch is a tiny bird, about 12 cm long and weighing 13–17 g.

The black-throated finch, or parson finch, is a species of estrildid finch found in grassy woodlands throughout north-east Australia from Cape York Peninsula to central Queensland. The southern black-throated finch is endangered, with a population in decline and its habitat is threatened by development, and has become extinct in New South Wales, while the northern black-throated finch is not listed as threatened at this point.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
12 cm
Weight
12.9–17.1 g
Wingspan
18 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Black-throated Finch?

The Black-throated Finch is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Black-throated Finch eat?

The Black-throated Finch feeds on seeds and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Black-throated Finch live in Australia?

The Black-throated Finch is endemic to Australia, recorded across 16 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingNorth QLD (north-east and east Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Breeding
  • Vagrant
  • Resident
  • Non-breeding

8 regions recorded