Long-Tailed Finch

Poephila acuticauda

The long-tailed finch (Poephila acuticauda) is a northern Australian grassfinch of open woodland, savanna, and grassy country near water. It is slim and neatly marked, with a grey head, black bib, fawn-brown body, pale spots on the flanks, and a long pointed black tail. Bill color helps identify forms: the nominate yellow-billed birds and the orange to red-billed Heck's grassfinch are often discussed as subspecies or avicultural lines. In the wild, flocks feed mainly on grass seeds and use tree hollows or grass nests for breeding.

In aviculture, long-tailed finches are active birds for spacious flight cages or planted aviaries rather than tiny decorative cages. They are generally hardy in warm, dry conditions if protected from drafts, cold rain, and overcrowding. A good maintenance diet combines a quality finch seed mix with seeding grasses, greens, sprouted seed, and calcium; egg food or small live foods are useful during breeding. Pairs may nest in boxes or woven baskets and can become territorial around the nest. Breeders often keep bill-color forms separate and avoid hybrids with related Poephila finches to preserve recognizable lines.