Double bar Finch
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PO  Box 126 Mitcham Vic 3132 ( Victoria, Australia )

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. Double bar finch
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    double bar finch photo double bar finch photo
  • An Australian Finch                                                   (Click on photo to enlarge)
  • Scientific Name: Taeniopygia bichenovii ( or Poephila bichenovii )
  • Common Name/s: DOUBLE BAR FINCH,  DOUBLE BARRED FINCH,  BLACK RUMPED DOUBLE BARRED FINCH,  WHITE RUMPED DOUBLE BARRED FINCH,  OWL FINCH, BICHENO'S FINCH.
  • Sub Species: 2....Taeniopygia bichenovii bichenovii = white rump.  Taeniopygia bichenovii annulosa = black rump.
  • Origin / Distribution: Top part of Western Australia, Northern and eastern Australia, down to southern New South Wales.
  • Habitat In Wild: Diverse, including farmland and has adapted well to urban areas.
  • Status In Wild: Secure
  • Status In (Australian) Captivity: Secure
  • Age To Sexual Maturity: Probably about 6 - 8 months. They form pair bonds early, usually before reaching sexual maturity.  Although they are sexually mature at about 9 months of age, it is better if the hens can be about 12 months of age prior to them laying.
  • Adult plumage: attained at about  2 - 4 months of age.
  • Best breeding years (estimate): 12 months to 4th year
  • Lifespan (estimate): about 7 years.
  • Sexing: Monomorphic / Dimorphic. Difficult to sex.
  • Mutations: One - Fawn
  • Availability: Bird dealers
  • Temperament: Does well as a colony of breeding Double bars. They are usually non-aggressive birds and are suitable for a mixed species finch collection. They are swift agile fliers.
  • Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx) Black rumped $100, White rumped $60.
  • Description Of Adults: Smallest of the Australian Grassfinches.
  1. Length: Approx. 110 - 115 mm (or about 4.5 inches)
  2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photos above - top right of page. (Click on photo to enlarge).
  3. Weight: Approx. 7 gms (or 1/4 oz)

The Zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) and the Double Bar finch (Taeniopygia bichenovii) are the two members of the family Taeniopygia.

Aviary Notes:

Read notes on "Finches - Australian" web page and use in conjunction with details outlined on this page.

Level Of Knowledge Required: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws: Refer to "Government Laws" page.

Housing Requirements: Click on "Housing birds" web page for general details on the housing of Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.

If the Double Bar finches are kept as one pair per aviary they only need a small aviary.  A larger aviary is required in they are housed with other finches or as a colony.  Like the Zebra finch they can be bred in a cabinet style (canary breeder cage) cages, however breeding results may be less than if housed in an aviary. 2 or 3 pairs in an aviary will give good breeding results.  Up to 6 pairs can form a good breeding colony if space is available.

Usually housed in a fully roofed aviary.  A well planted aviary, including tall grasses is preferable.

The Double Bar finch are usually non-aggressive birds and are suitable for a mixed species finch collection, however they should not be housed with other species of aggressive birds.  They do not handle aggression from more dominant species and this may cause the Double Bar birds to fail to breed or die.

Do not house the different types together as they may hybridize. Keep the two breeding lines pure.

Diet / Feeding: Click on "Feeding birds" web page for general details on the nutrition of Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.

The Double Bar finch requires a good quality finch mix, seeding grasses and some fruits (e.g. apple) and green leafy vegetables.  Live food is beneficial, especially at breeding season.  Small to medium size mealworms are commonly used.  Sprouted or soaked seed if available.  Seeding grasses are an important diet item for good results.

Basic seed mix should include Canary seed, White French Millet, Japanese Millet, and Yellow and Red Panicum.

Nesting: A basic overview only.

  • Roosting nest: Yes, and often shared by many birds.
  • Nesting months: May breed year round if conditions are suitable. Spring to early autumn is preferable.
  • Nesting receptacles: The Double Bar finch will make their nest in shrubs or dry brush such as tea tree. Will use half open nest boxes and other commercially available nests.  They may use an abandoned finch nest and remodel it to their requirements.
  • Nest: Both parents build a dome shaped nest made from grasses, coconut fibre etc that may have an entrance tunnel. Nest is lined with feathers and soft fine grasses.  Swamp grass and November grass are ideal.
  • Who incubates the eggs: Hen / cock / both share.

Double bar finches are generally intolerant of nest inspections.  Double Bar finches like a lot of privacy around the nest site.  The more privacy they get, often the better the breeding results.
More details on finch nests and a selection of finch nest photos can be located on the "nests", "finch nests" and "finch nest photos" web pages.  Click on "Up" then "nests" then "finch nests" and "finch nests photos" in the navigation bars.

Breeding: Egg Colour White.  Clutch/s per year 2 - 3.  Eggs per nest 4 - 6.  Incubation approx 13 - 14 days.  Fledge approx. 21 days.  Independent approx. another 3 - 4 weeks. The young will often return to the nest after they fledge.

Although they are sexually mature at about 9 months of age, it is better if the hens can be about 12 months of age prior to them laying.

In an aviary it is generally safe to leave the young in the same aviary as the parents after they become fully independent.  A leg ring will be necessary to identify individual birds in a colony.  As the young will obtain adult plumage at about 3 months of age, a numbered leg ring may be the only way of identifying the young from adult birds.  Young birds (when they become fully independent) must be removed when bred in a cage.

Artificial incubation, hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site.  It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.  Refer "Specific References" as listed below and "General References" listings.

Health Issues: Refer "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

  • Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new birds or sick birds are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site. Refer above "Avian Health Issues" web page option.
  • Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace. Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References: Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

  • Australian Aviculture

  • A/A Vol 59 No. 3 Mar 2005 Page 61-64 (Inc photo).
  • A/A Vol 52 No.11 Nov 1998 Page 249-252 (Inc photo)
  • A/A Vol 52 No. 7 July 1998 Page 159-161 (Inc photo)
  • A/A Vol 52 No. 3 Mar 1998 Page 49-50 (Inc photo)
  • A/A Vol 45 No. 8 Aug 1991 Page 181-182
  • A/A Vol 42 No. 2 Feb 1988 Page 45-46
  • A/A Vol 39 No. 12 Dec 1985 Page 289 (Inc photo)
  • A/A Vol 32 No. 11 Nov 1978 Page 165-166 (Inc photo)
  • A/A Vol 30 No. 1 Jan 1976 Page 9-10
  • A/A Vol 22 No 10 Oct 1968 Page 156-157.
  • A/A Vol 20 No 2 Feb 1966 Page 14-15 (Black rumped).
  • A/A Vol 14 No. 8 Aug 1960 Page 110-112.
  • A/A Vol  9 No 12 Dec 1955 Page 141.
  • A/A Vol  6 No 10 Oct 1952 Page 123.
  • A/A Vol  3 No 9 Sept 1949 Page 98 (Sexing Aust. finches).
  • A/A Vol  1 No 4 Apr 1947.
  • The Bulletin No 24, Oct 1944 Page 2.
  • Australian Birdkeeper
  • ABK Vol 17 Issue 1. Feb-Mar 2004 Page 6-8 (Sexing Double bars).
  • ABK Vol 13 Issue 6 Dec-Jan 2001 Page 311-314
  • ABK Vol  2 Issue 11 Oct-Nov 1989 Page 435-438
  • ABK Vol  2 Issue 9 Jun-July 1989 Page 334-335

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