Black Throated Finch

Description:

Grey head, black "bib" extending from chin to the throat, black bill, black markings extending from each side of the beak to the eye (black 'lores'), brown back and wings, pinkish-brown colored breast and belly, black thighs, white rump (P. c. cincta), black tail, orange legs. P. c. atropygialis is the black-rumped variety, which looks nearly identical to the white-rumped subspecies, except that the birds have a black rump. Crossing the two subspecies may produce birds which have a combination of the two rump colors ("visual splits"). P. c. nigrotecta has a chocolate colored breast and can occur with either a white or black rump. Juveniles emerge from the nest similar to adults but with paler markings and a smaller throat bib.

Habitat:

Near water in sparsely wooded savanna grassland. Frequents open pandanus plains near the coast.

Notes:

Parson's live in loose, sedentary flocks year-round and primarily eat half-ripe grass seeds, small insects, and termites. Pairs from a flock build their nests closely together, using stems, and creating an entrance tunnel. Nests have been noted in tall eucalyptus trees (from 5 to 40 feet off the ground), pandanus palms, abandoned kingfisher caves, on the underside of hawk's nests, parrots' breeding holes, in tree holes, and in termite mounds. Nest lining consists of plant wool and white feathers; sometimes nests contain pieces of charcoal. Young males may carry a piece of grass while courting. Parent birds primarily feed their young flying termites. Birds roost in a nest at night.