Finches: Diet, Breeding and Sexing Guide
Last updated: October 2026
Written by the Birdsville team.
The Long Tailed Finch, also called the Longtail, Heck’s Finch or Shaft Tail Finch, is an elegant Australian grassfinch with a soft grey head, a black bib, a fawn body and a long, pointed black tail. Long Tails are placid, hardy and long lived for a finch, and they suit both mixed aviaries and single pair breeding cages. They eat a quality finch seed mix with sprouted seed, millet sprays, greens, grit and live food, and they breed in nest boxes and wicker nests from spring through to autumn. This page covers where Long Tailed Finches come from, how to tell males from females, housing, diet, breeding and how to keep them healthy. Birdsville in Alexandria stocks everything you need to keep them.
Long Tailed Finch Key Takeaways
Long Tailed Finches are placid Australian grassfinches from the tropical north.
There are two forms: the yellow billed in the west and the red billed in the east.
Males have a larger black bib and a wider skull than females.
Long Tails eat finch seed, sprouted seed, millet sprays, greens, grit, egg and biscuit, and live food.
Hens lay 4 to 7 eggs, both parents incubate them for 13 to 14 days, and the young leave the nest at about 3 weeks.
Always offer more nests than pairs, spread around the aviary at different heights.
Keep Long Tails away from Masked Finches and Black Throated Finches, as they can crossbreed.
Birdsville Blends Finch and Canary is our recommended seed for Long Tailed Finches.
Birdsville at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria stocks the seed, supplements and nesting supplies Long Tailed Finches need.
Long Tailed Finch Quick Facts
Scientific name: Poephila acuticauda
Other names: Longtail, Heck’s Finch, Shaft Tail Finch, Blackheart Finch
Size: about 16cm long, including the tail
Lifespan: about 7 to 10 years with good care
Native range: northern Australia, from the Kimberley in Western Australia across the Northern Territory to north west Queensland
Habitat: open grassland and savannah woodland with scattered gum trees and pandanus, close to permanent water
Subspecies: yellow billed (Poephila acuticauda acuticauda, west) and red billed (Poephila acuticauda hecki, east)
Temperament: placid
Experience level: beginner to intermediate
Clutch: 4 to 7 white eggs
Incubation: 13 to 14 days, shared by both parents
Breeding season: spring to autumn
Where Do Long Tailed Finches Come From?
Long Tailed Finches come from the far north of Australia, from Derby in the Kimberley across the Top End to north west Queensland.
They live in open grassland and dry savannah woodland with scattered gum trees and pandanus, and they’re always found close to permanent water. The yellow billed form lives in the west of the range, and the red billed form, often called Heck’s Finch, lives in the east. Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-tailed_finch) has more on Long Tailed Finches in the wild.
How Do You Tell a Male Long Tailed Finch From a Female?
Male Long Tailed Finches have a larger black bib and a wider skull than females.
Line several birds up and compare the size of the black patch under the beak, as the cock bird’s bib is broader and his head looks flatter and wider from above. Aviculture Hub (https://www.aviculturehub.com.au/long-tailed-finch/) notes that hens are usually slightly smaller and that males often have richer colouring. The differences can be subtle, so DNA testing is the only way to be completely sure.
How Do You House Long Tailed Finches?
Long Tailed Finches can live in a large planted aviary as a colony, or in a long breeding cage with one pair per cage.
Keep them in pairs or groups, never alone. They come from the warm tropics, so give them a sheltered, draught free space with plenty of perches and shrubs for cover. Long Tails are placid and mix well with other calm finches, quail and doves, but don’t house them with Masked Finches or Black Throated Finches, as these close relatives crossbreed. It’s also best to keep just one form, yellow billed or red billed, in each aviary. Our guide to finch cages and aviaries (https://birdsville.net.au/finch-cages-aviaries/) covers cage size, bar spacing and aviary setup.
What Do Long Tailed Finches Eat?
Long Tailed Finches eat a quality finch seed mix, plus sprouted seed, millet sprays, greens, grit, egg and biscuit, live food and a regular vitamin boost.
Seed
A good quality finch mix is the base of the diet and makes a real difference if you want your birds to flourish and breed. Our first choice is Birdsville Blends Finch and Canary (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-finch-canary-500g), made fresh in store, and Basic Finch Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/avigrain-seed-finch-blue-2kg) is a good everyday option. Be wary of nicely packaged supermarket seed, as the quality is often not the best. Our Finch Seed page (https://birdsville.net.au/seeds-grains/finch-seed/) has more.
Sprouted Seed
Long Tails relish sprouted seed. Always wash it thoroughly with Vetafarm Aviclens (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-aviclens-water-cleanser-100ml) before feeding to remove bacteria. Our Best Bird Treats page (https://birdsville.net.au/bird-treats-tips-and-sprouted-mix/) explains how to sprout seed.
Millet Sprays
Millet sprays give finches fresh, soft seed on the stem. For finches we recommend French white millet over the other varieties. Hang Millet Sprays (https://petsville.com.au/products/millet-sprays-mixed-100g) in a Millet Spray Holder (https://petsville.com.au/products/jw-insight-feeder-millet-spray-holder) to keep them off the floor.
Greens
Offer greens such as seeding grasses, endive, silverbeet, cucumber and chickweed. Always make sure any plants you offer are free of pesticides.
Live Food
Live food such as mealworms and fly pupae is an important source of protein, especially when Long Tails are breeding. Give it along with a couple of pinches a day of Vetafarm Insectivore Rearing Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/wombaroo-insectivore-rearing-mix-250g).
Egg and Biscuit
Egg and biscuit formula, such as Shep’s Egg and Biscuit (https://petsville.com.au/products/sheps-egg-biscuit-500g), is another great source of protein. You can add it to the same dish when you feed live food.
Grit
Offer a fine grit mix with limestone, charcoal, shell, crushed cuttlebone and baked egg shell, such as Shell Grit (https://petsville.com.au/products/shell-grit-5kg). Never mix grit into the seed. Always keep it in its own container.
Vitamins
Every finch benefits from a regular vitamin boost. Add vitamins such as Vetafarm Multivet (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-multivet-50ml) to the water, not the seed, because finches hull their seed as they eat and the vitamins are thrown away with the husks.
How Do You Breed Long Tailed Finches?
Long Tailed Finches breed in nest boxes and wicker nests, either as a colony in a large aviary or as single pairs in breeding cages, and hens lay 4 to 7 eggs.
Their main breeding season runs from spring through to autumn. Offer nesting material such as Swamp Grass (https://petsville.com.au/products/breeders-delight-nesting-material-swamp-grass-50g) and soft feathers so they can build and line their nests. Both parents share the incubation, which takes 13 to 14 days. The young stay in the nest for about 3 weeks, and once they fledge, the parents feed them for roughly another 3 weeks while they build confidence and learn to crack seed. Increase live food, egg and biscuit and insectivore mix while they’re raising chicks. Vetafarm Finch and Budgie Crumbles (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-finch-budgie-crumbles-450g) are also useful for breeding pairs.
Why Offer More Nests Than Pairs?
Always put out more nesting sites than you have pairs. Giving Long Tails a choice increases your chances of breeding success and stops birds squabbling over one nest. Spread the nests throughout the aviary at different heights.
How Do You Keep Long Tailed Finches Healthy?
Keep Long Tailed Finches healthy with a varied diet, fresh water every day, a draught free home and regular cleaning.
Change water and seed daily and clean the cage or aviary each week with a bird safe disinfectant. Keep new birds in a separate cage for 2 weeks before they join your others. A finch that sits fluffed up and quiet may be unwell, so see an avian vet. Our Common Bird Illnesses page (https://birdsville.net.au/common-bird-illnesses/) lists the warning signs.
When Do Long Tailed Finches Breed in Sydney?
In Sydney, Long Tailed Finches breed best in the warmer months, from around October through to April.
Spring is the time to put out fresh nest boxes, wicker nests and nesting material, and to start increasing live food. In summer, make sure your aviary has shade and plenty of fresh water. When the cold weather arrives, give them a covered, draught free area and cover indoor cages at night, as these are tropical birds.
A Tip From Our Staff
When you set up for breeding, put out more nests than you have pairs, and hang them at different heights around the aviary. Long Tails like to choose their own nest, and giving them options means fewer squabbles and more chicks.
Long Tailed Finch Frequently Asked Questions
Are Long Tailed Finches good for beginners?
Yes, Long Tailed Finches are a good choice for beginners who have a little space. They’re placid, hardy and long lived for a finch. Keep them in pairs or a small colony in a long flight cage or aviary, feed a quality finch seed mix with greens and grit, and add vitamins to their water.
How do you tell male and female Long Tailed Finches apart?
Male Long Tailed Finches have a larger black bib under the beak and a wider skull than females. Hens are often slightly smaller. Compare several birds side by side to see the difference, as it can be subtle. DNA testing is the only way to know for certain whether a bird is male or female.
What is the difference between red billed and yellow billed Long Tailed Finches?
They’re two forms of the same species. Yellow billed Long Tails come from the western part of the range in the Kimberley, and red billed Long Tails, also known as Heck’s Finch, come from the east. It’s best to keep just one form in each aviary so their colours stay true.
How long do Long Tailed Finches live?
Long Tailed Finches can live around 7 to 10 years with good care, which is a long life for a finch. A quality seed mix, fresh greens, clean water every day, a draught free home and regular cleaning all help your birds stay healthy for as long as possible.
Can Long Tailed Finches live with other finches?
Yes, Long Tailed Finches mix well with most placid finches, quail and doves in a roomy aviary. Don’t keep them with Masked Finches or Black Throated Finches, because these close relatives crossbreed with Long Tails. Make sure there are plenty of feeding stations and more nests than pairs to prevent squabbles.
When do Long Tailed Finches breed?
Long Tailed Finches breed from spring to autumn, around October to April in Sydney. Hens lay 4 to 7 eggs, and both parents incubate them for 13 to 14 days. The chicks leave the nest at about 3 weeks old, and the parents keep feeding them for another 3 weeks or so.
Where Can I Buy Long Tailed Finch Supplies in Sydney?
Birdsville stocks everything you need to keep Long Tailed Finches, from finch seed and millet sprays to nesting material, insectivore mix and vitamins, at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney. Visit us or call (02) 9669 1766, and our team will help you with diet, housing and breeding advice. We’re open 9:30am to 5:30pm weekdays, 10am to 5pm Saturday and 10am to 4pm Sunday, with directions on our Contact page (https://birdsville.net.au/contact-birdsville/). Follow us on TikTok ([ADD TIKTOK LINK]), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BirdsvilleRosebery/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/petsvillesydney/) for live updates and finch care tips.
Petsville (https://petsville.com.au/) ships finch seed and supplies anywhere in Australia, including our Birdsville Blends Finch and Canary. Seed can’t be sent to WA or Tasmania because of quarantine laws.
Popular Long Tailed Finch supplies on Petsville:
Birdsville Blends Finch and Canary (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-finch-canary-500g)
Millet Sprays (https://petsville.com.au/products/millet-sprays-mixed-100g)
Vetafarm Insectivore Rearing Mix (https://petsville.com.au/products/wombaroo-insectivore-rearing-mix-250g)
Shep’s Egg and Biscuit (https://petsville.com.au/products/sheps-egg-biscuit-500g)
Swamp Grass Nesting Material (https://petsville.com.au/products/breeders-delight-nesting-material-swamp-grass-50g)
Vetafarm Multivet (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-multivet-50ml)
About Birdsville
Birdsville has been at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015 since 1985, and we believe we’re now the oldest bricks and mortar bird shop still trading in Australia. Owner Ash brings experience from vet clinics and from the Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas, now Wildlife Habitat. We’re a small business that does things in a big way, and we keep our products the best of the best.
Sources
Wild range, habitat, size, subspecies and other names: Wikipedia, Long-tailed Finch
Lifespan, sexing, mixing and crossbreeding: Aviculture Hub, Long-tailed Finch
Breeding, nesting and diet advice: the Birdsville team
Product details: Petsville product listings
