ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS ON KEEPING AUSTRALIAN FINCHES
Part 4 - Stocking the Aviary/Birdroom
By John Williams
Before purchasing any new species of finch, make sure you try and find out all you can about it and its requirements, don't buy birds on an impulse, the old saying "act in haste repent at leisure" is very appropriate, especially if you are unable to keep the bird alive when you get it home. Try to buy stock from someone who has experience of keeping and breeding finches, and can advise you on their requirements, try to mirror the conditions and diet that they have been used too initially. It is probably best to buy several pairs of a particular species, rather than single pairs of different varieties, so that if you loose one you will still have the nucleus of a breeding group. Good Australian Finches to start with:
Hecks Grassfinch
A beautiful and well groomed finch which does well in either cage or aviary, Head silvery grey; upper surfaces and wings pale fawn-grey, darker shade on the wings; underparts fawn; throat patch black; eye stripe black; thigh markings black edged with white; tail black and tapered with two very long central feathers; Bill red; legs orange/red. The sexes are almost alike but the females will usually be found to have a slightly narrower ans smaller throat but this should not be relied on, sexing is best done by observation, the cock will sing while ruffling his bib, he will also hop and jig in front of a prospective mate. The interaction between a group of hecks is very entertaining to see, still very much one of my favorites.
Star Finch
Another popular and easily bred Australian Finch. Upper surfaces olive green; breast olive; lower undeparts pale yellowish green; forehead, cheeks and throat bright red; tail crimson; face and breast spotted white; bill red; legs flesh-colored. Sexing is easier as the female's colors are more muted with less Red on the face.
Cherry Finch
Although not striking in colour it is an attractive and docile finch Upper surfaces tawny brown with some white spots on the wings; crown and throat plum-colored;underparts off-white barred with brown; Bill black; legs brown. Sexing. Female, plum colored area of the forehead smaller; chin and upper throat , white; barring on belly less pronounced. Diamond Firetail An attractive Finch that breeds freely in aviaries, if a true pair can be obtained. They get along well with other finches except at mating time, when they chase other birds especially closely Grassfinches ,away from their nesting area, Sometimes incessantly. Lores, black; head , light gray ;chin and throat, white; back and wings, deep brown; rump, bright red ; tail, black; broad black band across upper breast ; sides of body, black with white spots ; belly, white . Sexing. Difficult as sexes are alike, although females usually smaller; and have narrower black band on fore-neck, and brown lores. Confirm by observation, cocks behavior and song.
Chestnut Breasted Finch
An attractive and agile member of the Australian Mannikins that are usually long lived, and get along well with other Finches Crown, back of head, and nape, gray brown with a dark stripe across the middle of the feathers; back, cinnamon brown ;wings, rump, and tail, gray brown ; central tail feathers, yellow; Sides of head and throat ,black; crop and upper breast, chestnut brown and divided from the white lower belly by a black band. Sexing: Difficult. Female slightly paler and duller ,with paler breast and thinner dividing line between chestnut brown of upper breast and white of belly. Confirm by observing males song and display. You will note that I have not included the Gouldian Finch, although it is one of the easier finches to get to breed their susceptibility to damp/draughts and their unpredictability as parents, has at times caused frustration and disappointment to beginners. Those listed above are relatively easy to keep and breed, requiring similar husbandry.