The species was described and given its binomial name by Allan Octavian Hume based on a specimen obtained at Kaladhungi near Nainital.

The species was called "Eastern baya" by Oates in 1889 and called Finn's baya after Frank Finn by E. C. Stuart Baker in 1925.

[2][3][4][5] Finn's weaver was first observed in Shuklaphanta National Park in May 1996 and is a regular summer visitor.

[7] It builds a nest on top of trees or in reeds.

The nest is different in structure from the other weaver species found in India, but as in other weavers, woven from thin strips of leaves and reeds.