This little waxbill stands out with its striking red eyebrows and vibrant red rump, set against a subdued palette of grey and olive green. It’s hard to miss this distinctive bird!
The red-browed finch, known by its scientific name Neochmia temporalis, can be easily identified by its distinct red eyebrows, rump, and beak. These vibrant red features stand out against the bird’s green back and grey chest and belly. The finch’s tail is black, while its throat and cheeks are grey in color.
It’s difficult to tell the difference between male and female birds as they share a strikingly similar appearance. Interestingly, there are some unique characteristics that set juvenile birds apart from their adult counterparts. For instance, young birds don’t have the signature red eyebrows or olive-colored back and wing coverts of mature birds. On another note, some might describe a certain bird as breathtakingly beautiful, but unfortunately, it tends to make more appearances than sounds.
The feathered creatures can be found residing on the eastern shores of Australia, and have also been brought over to French Polynesia.
The Red-browed Finch is commonly spotted in grassy regions with thick underbrush, especially near streams.
The Red-browed Finches have a diet that mainly consists of seeds, particularly those found in grass and sedge. However, they are also known to devour various non-native seed types with delight.
The Red-browed Finches, who are active during their breeding season, work together to build a spacious nest made from woven grass and small twigs. The nest is dome-shaped with a side entrance and usually situated at a height of 2-3 meters in dense shrubbery. These finches lay around four to six eggs in the nest and both the male and female take turns in keeping them warm and feeding the young ones after they hatch. It takes almost 28 days for the juvenile birds to become self-sufficient and independent from their parents. Overall, the Red-browed Finches exhibit great care and cooperation when it comes to raising their offspring.
At present, the status of this particular species is identified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and there is no significant threat to its population as it remains stable.
