The House Sparrow was introduced from Britain between 1863 and 1870. House Sparrows are actually large finches.They are usually seen in small to medium-sized groups, but may occur in huge numbers. The male has a conspicuous grey crown, black face and throat, and dark black and brown upperparts. The remainder of the under parts are pale grey-brown. When breeding, the black of the throat extends to the chest and upper belly. The bill also changes from brown to black. The female is slightly paler than the male and lacks the grey crown and black face, instead having a pale buff eye stripe. Young House Sparrows are similar to the adult female, but are duller with some mottling on the crown, and have a darker bill. House Sparrows occur in and around human habitation, as well as cultivated areas and some wooded country. One reason for the successful establishment of the House Sparrow in Australia and, indeed, all over the world, is its ability to feed on a wide range of foodstuffs. Birds eat insects, spiders, berries, seeds, flower buds and scraps of food discarded by humans. There are many reports of birds entering canteens in buildings to feed, with birds even learning to activate automatic doors in order to gain entry. Male and female House Sparrows form permanent pair bonds. Both sexes build the nest and care for the young, though the female alone incubates the eggs. The nest is a large, untidy ball of grass, wool and feathers, lined with feathers and finer plant material. It is usually located in suitable areas in buildings, such as roof voids and crevices in walls, but may be placed under bridges, in thick bushes or in tree hollows. Several broods may be produced in the extended breeding season. (Source: Australian Museum, 2018.), (Image: Keith.).

the Double-barred Finch has two narrow, black bars which extend across (and contrast with) its otherwise white front — one goes across its breast and the other across the lower portion of its throat. This second bar encloses the bird’s face and gives the impression that the bird has a facial disc, a little reminiscent of that of a Barn Owl. It is this feature that has led to the bird being colloquially referred to as the ‘Owl Finch’ or the ‘Owl-faced Finch’. It is grey-brown, with white underparts banded black above and below the chest, giving the species its name. The wings are black, spotted white, the tail is black and the bill and legs are blueish-grey. Juveniles are dulller, with indistinct chest bars. These grass-finches usually feed in flocks and have a bouncing, undulating flight pattern. The Double-barred Finch prefers dry grassy woodlands and scrublands, open forests and farmlands. It is never far from water. The Double-barred Finch feeds on the ground on seeds. It will also take insects, especially when breeding. It usually feeds in groups or flocks of up to 40 birds. The Double-barred Finch builds a rounded nest, with a side entrance and short tunnel into a inner chamber lined with fine grass, feathers and plant down. The nest is placed between 1 m to 5 m from the ground in pandanus or thick shrubs, or even in the eaves of a building, often close to an active wasps' nest. Both parents incubate and feed the young. (Source: Birdlife Australia, n.d.), (Image: Marj Kibby).

Zebra Finches make the most of infrequent wet periods when they occur. It takes only a small quantity of rainfall to send these birds into a breeding frenzy, rapidly building nests and raising broods of young in quick succession. The young birds develop quickly, fledging about two weeks after hatching. The young finches are independent when they are 35 days old, and they soon begin breeding, contributing to the boom-and-bust cycle of inland Australia. Zebra Finches are mainly grey, with characteristic black 'tear drop' eye stripes and 'zebra like' black and white barring on the rump and upper tail. The throat and upper breast are pale grey, with fine black barring, and there is a broad black band on upper chest. The sides of the belly are chestnut with many white spots. The remainder of the belly and the undertail are white. The male is distinguished from the female by its chestnut cheek patches, a character that gave the species the alternative name of Chestnut-eared Finch. Both sexes have red eyes and bill. The legs and feet are orange yellow. Young are similar in plumage to the female. The eyes are grey-brown and the bill is black. Zebra Finches feed in large flocks on fallen or ripening grass seeds. Insects may be taken at any time of the year, but are particularly favoured when feeding young. Feeding takes place on the ground, and, unlike some other grassfinches, birds never pull seed heads down with their feet. Zebra Finches pair for life. The female alone selects the nest site, but both birds care for the eggs and young. The male gathers almost all the nesting material and the female constructs the loose dome-shaped nest. Birds have also been reported to nest in hollows in the ground, although this behaviour is uncommon. (Source: Birdlife Australia, n.d.).