Elegant, long-tailed finch, adult male brown above, intense crimson below, with a cherry-red face and small pale spots on the side of the chest. Birds in New Guinea and on the western side of Cape York with white belly, those elsewhere in Australia with black. Female duller, with only red face. Juvenile mostly brownish with dark bill but note long tail. Star Finch has shorter tail, greener plumage. Inhabits tall grass areas, especially with Pandanus (palm-like tree with leaves attached in a corkscrew pattern).