FAMILY NAME: Passeridae SCIENTIFIC NAME: Neochmia temporalis SUBSPECIES: minor, loftyi.
SIZE: Up to 12cm. (5") tip to tail.
LOCATION: Found down the entire east coast and south east corner of Australia, on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range.
BREEDING: Clutches from 4 to 5 eggs. Both the male and female build the nest, incubate and feed their young. The nest is covered, and has a side entrance. They are built reasonably close to the ground in dense bush. The breeding season is from October to April.
GENERAL: Sometimes referred to as the Red-browed Firetail. Both sexes are similarly marked. The upper parts are yellowish/olive green, with the under parts being light grey. The bill, eyebrow and rump are red. They enjoy grasslands interspersed with dense bush, preferrably near creeks. A sedentary bird usually found in flocks, which feeds on seeds and insects, usually feeding on the ground.
References:
Michael Morecombe. Field Guide to Australian Birds, Complete Compact Edtion.
Ken Simpson - Nicholas Day. The Birds of Australia.
M. Blakers - S. J. J. F. Davies - P. N. Reilly. The Atlas of Australian Birds.
Birds in Backyards. www.birdsinbackyards.net
