When walking along a tree-lined path, you may notice a tiny bird, with a flash of red, flitting in front of you.
It’s most likely to be the Red-browed Finch. A small, vibrant and sociable songbird that gets its name from the distinctive red stripe that runs across its brow. Often observed in small flocks, they will fly into dense undergrowth when disturbed by a passer-by.
The Red-browed Finch is a small, sleek bird with distinctive olive-green upperparts and pale grey underparts. The bright red eyebrow stripe, red rump and red beak contrasts sharply with the grey face and throat. Both sexes look similar, with juveniles showing duller plumage and a black beak that turns red as they mature.
Inhabiting the eastern and southern Australia, from North Queensland to South Australia, they inhabit a variety of environments, including open woodlands, forest edges, grassy areas near water and dry savannah areas. In recent years, they have adapted well to urban and suburban areas and will brighten parks and gardens with native vegetation.
The Red-browed Finch fees mainly on grass seeds, which they gather both on the ground and directly from seed heads. They will supplement their diet with small insects, especially during breeding season. A highly social bird they are often seen in small flocks of 10-20 birds.
They hop and flit through grass and low shrubs while foraging, maintaining contact with soft, high-pitched calls. When disturbed, the whole flock will disperse, cheeping and re-congregating near-by. During the night birds sleep on perches or in “roosting” nests which they build for nighttime rest.
Breeding season is October to April. During this time, pairs become more territorial, with males performing soft songs and short display flights, often carrying grass stems in their beaks to attract a mate.
Once paired, they form strong, monogamous bonds. These birds usually nest communally. Their nest is a large, domed structure woven from twigs and grass stems, lined with feathers and a side tunnel entrance, built in dense shrub 1-3 metres off the ground.
Females lay 4-6 eggs per clutch. Both parents share nest-building, incubation of the eggs and feeding of the young when they hatch.
The Red-browed Finch is an active bird, often seen in flocks moving through the trees in search of food.
These birds are important seed dispersers and play an important role in the ecology of the Australian bush.
