Bicheno’s Finch (Taeniopygia bichenovii) commemorates James Ebenezer Bicheno, a colonial secretary of Van Diemen's Land appointed in September 1842. It is sometimes referred to as the double-barred finch; and also as owl finch, owing to the dark ring of feathers around its face. It is found in dry savannah, tropical (lowland) dry grassland and shrubland habitats in northern and eastern Australia. The Double-barred Finch 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. There are two subspecies of Double-barred Finch: the eastern race has a white rump and the western race has a black rump. Otherwise, distinguished form other finches by its 'owl-face'.
