 Heck's grassfinch or finch, or Heck's longtail is applied to the eastern subspecies "Poephila acuticauda hecki" with red beaks, and the nominate subspecies with orange or yellow beaks is referred by the common name for the species.The adult long-tailed finch is around 160 mm in length, the weight range of males is 13.5–16.2 grams and females 11.4–17.6 g. It has a prominent roundish black bib on its throat and upper chest and a long pointed black tail.It has pinkish brown upperparts with paler plumage below its bib over the lower breast and abdomen.