Spice finch

Background

The spice finch is a small bird from tropical Asia and introduced populations have become established in many countries.

There are wild populations in eastern Queensland and New South Wales.

Records indicate there was a wild population in Adelaide in the late 1970s, but this population no longer exists. There are no known populations of spice finches in South Australia.

It is illegal to keep, transport, sell or release Spice finch in South Australia under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019.

Impacts

Spice finch are a serious pest bird that:

• damage cereal crops
• compete with native bird species.

Identification

The spice finch has a stubby dark bill, brown upper parts and a dark brown head. The under parts are white with dark brown scalloping.

Males have darker markings on the underside and a darker throat than females.

The native chestnut-breasted manikin and introduced sparrows can be mistaken for the spice finch.

Report spice finches

The spice finch has not yet become established in South Australia. To make sure this doesn’t happen, report all suspected sightings.