The Heck's Grassfinch or Shaftail, as it is also called, is an elegant Australian finch with a rather comical demeanor. Their size of 6-7 inches 

Beak color ranges from bright orange to deep red depending on the color mutation. Heck's colors range from the normal as described below to cremes, whites, and fawn mutations. The head of a normal is a beautiful soft gray with black streaks around the eyes giving it an almost oriental appearance. Below the beak and running down to the top of the chest is a bold black bib. The body itself is a soft grayish brown with almost a tinge of peach. The underparts of the Heck's is yet paler and the vent area is almost white. The tail is black and quite long separating into two central shafts. A broad black bar extends down each side of the legs and is flanked with brilliant white. The legs are orange/red in color. 

• Shaft-tail Finch, The - by Kerri McCoy

Hecks Grassfinch
(photo by Harry Bryant)

Hecks Grassfinch
(photo by Ron Castaner)

Hecks Grassfinch
( photo by Harry Bryant)

Hecks Grassfinch
( photo by Roy Beckham)