 Originally described by ornithologist John Gould as "Amadina cincta" in 1837, its specific epithet is Latin "cincta" may be interpreted to mean "girdled".Gould described before his visit to Australia, using a specimen deposited at the British Museum.It is placed in the Australo-papuan finch family Estrildidae, although this family itself was previously placed in the sparrow family Passeridae.