Diamond Firetail
Stagonopleura guttata
The Diamond Firetail (Stagonopleura guttata) is a uncommon munias, parrotfinches, waxbills, and alli found in 2 countries, weighing about 18 g. The diamond firetail is a species of estrildid finch that is endemic to Australia.
About the Diamond Firetail
The diamond firetail is a species of estrildid finch that is endemic to Australia. It has a patchy distribution and generally occupies drier forests and grassy woodlands west of the Great Dividing Range from South East Queensland to the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. While it is a small stocky bird it is one of the largest finches in Australia. The birds are very distinctive with a black breast-band on a white breast. The flanks are black with white spots and it has a scarlet rump and a black tail.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The diamond firetail is one of the largest of the Australian finches by both weight (15–19 g) and wingspan (64–71 mm). eBird describes the firetail having an olive back and grey head. The belly and throat are white with a complete black band. The flanks are black with distinctive white spots. The rump is bright red and the tip of the tail is black. The rump is also described as scarlet by some authors. Juvenile diamond firetails are duller than the adults and have a black bill. The rump is very distinctive in flight. Voice: The Slater Field Guide notes the voice is a penetrating twoo-hee or pain, while the Australian Bird Guide describes the contact call as a "drawn out, mournful whistle like descending call of black-eared cuckoo, though typically disyllabic, with first syllable ascending and second descending". They are generally silent in flight.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States.
When to see it
The Diamond Firetail can be seen all year round, with peak activity in April. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Diamond Firetail?
- The diamond firetail is one of the largest of the Australian finches by both weight (15–19 g) and wingspan (64–71 mm). eBird describes the firetail having an olive back and grey head. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Diamond Firetail?
- The Diamond Firetail is a small sized bird weighing about 18 g.
- Where can you see a Diamond Firetail?
- The Diamond Firetail occurs in 2 countries, including Australia.
- What birds look similar to a Diamond Firetail?
- The Diamond Firetail is most easily confused with the Beautiful Firetail and the Red-eared Firetail.
- Is the Diamond Firetail endangered?
- The Diamond Firetail is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Diamond Firetail for real
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