- Poephila personata
Identification
12-13.5cm (4½ - 5½ in)
Adult
- Heavy yellow bill
- Black mask, chin, tail, band on flanks
- Buff breast
- White rump
- Red legs
- Subspecies personata has buff ear coverts and lower flanks
- Subspecies leucotis has white ear coverts and lower flanks
Immature
- Black bill
- Duller
Distribution
Northern Australia from Cape York to Kimberley, WA
Taxonomy
Variations
There are 2 subspecies[1]
- P.p.personata is found in Northern Territory west to Kimberley, Western Australia
- P.p.leucotis is found in Cape York and eastern NT
Habitat
Grassy woodland close to water
Behaviour
- Forages on ground in small flocks
- Flicks tail frequently
- Gathers at water in morning and evening, sometimes in large numbers
Diet
Diet includes fallen grass seeds.
Breeding
A domed nest is built from grasses, lined with fine grass, feathers, and charcoal, in the late wet season or early dry. 5-6 white eggs are laid.
Vocalisation
Long nasal 'tiat', soft 'tet'.
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
