Zebra finches are small birds, half the size of a sparrow and the most common and widespread of Australia's grass finches. They have striking colouration, mostly steely grey on top with a black and white "tear drop" near the eye and black and white barring on the tail and rump.

This black and white colouring is reminiscent of a Zebra, hence the name. The male has a distinctive orange cheek patch. The sides of the belly are chestnut with white spots. They have a red eye and a bright orange bill.

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heir preferred habitat is dry wooded grassland near a watercourse and they disperse in response to water availability. Zebra finches congregate in flocks of up to 100 birds and are very sociable. They feed on fallen or ripening grass seeds.

Pairs mate for life and the male gathers most of the nesting material and the female constructs a loose dome-shaped nest. Young finches are one of the fastest maturing bird species, reaching sexual maturity within 70-80 days of hatching.

Diamond Firetails are the rarer of two firetails found locally, the other being the Red-browed Finch. They also are beautifully coloured, with a white belly and a crimson rump. A black band across the chest continues down the flanks and is dotted with white spots. The bill and eye ring are red.

They are endemic to SE Australia and are listed as vulnerable in NSW. The numbers of these birds have been adversely affected by land clearing for farming and predation.

A large finch, they fly low and are found in open grassy woodlands and farmlands. They feed on grass seeds on the ground. They build their nests in thickets of prickly shrubs and the nest is woven of grasses by the female. The male bird attracts a mate by holding a piece of grass by one end and waving it in front of his intended mate.

How lucky we are to have such beautiful birdlife.

Hunter Bird Observers Club: www.hboc.org.au