Double-barred Finch

1. White face with a thin black border, creating an "owl-like" mask

2. Two black bands across the white chest

3. Brown wings with white spots

Double-barred Finches primarily eat grass seeds and occasionally insects, especially during the breeding season. They build rounded nests with side entrances in dense shrubs or grasses, sometimes near active wasp nests for protection. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties. Breeding usually occurs after rain, with clutches of 4–6 eggs that hatch after about two weeks. Fledglings remain dependent on their parents for several weeks after leaving the nest

Double-barred Finches inhabit dry grassy woodlands, open forests, shrublands, and savannas across northern and eastern Australia, avoiding the arid interior. They are usually found near water and are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. These birds are highly social, often seen in flocks of up to 40 individuals, and their flight is characterized by a bouncing, undulating pattern. Their call is a soft "tet" or "peew," which can help with locating them in the field