I saw a group of small finches at a soccer field in Rouse Hill, north-western Sydney. They were pale underneath, brown wings with a dark face. One or two of them had horizonal brown stripes underneath. Could they be plum-headed finches? Doesn't seem right in Sydney. Any other ideas?
Try Nutmeg Manakin or "Scaly-Breasted Munia" as they are properly known. They have a dark face, barring underneath and brown wings.
It's possible (but relatively unlikely) that they are plum-headed finches.
Dave, Sydney.
Did they look like this. Plum-Headed Finches
conceivable for the location
Plumbheads are a reasonably common aviary bird, wouldn't discount the possibility of escapees.
There were about 8 of them so I doubt that they were escapees. I'm sure they weren't nutmeg mannikins. I can't find anything else likely other than plum-headed finches. One of them that was close to me had exactly the same markings underneath as in the picture, thanks, but the others were pale but fairly plain underneath. Juveniles? The faces were dark on all of them.
Would be great if someone could confirm this. Plum Headed Finches rarely venture this side of the Blue Mountains. If they're hanging about and you could get a photo that would be a good sighting for the Sydney Basin.
Dave, Sydney.
Yes the Juveniles are generally just plain. As they get older they get the striped plumage.