Aurora Finch
BirdCare.com.au
PO  Box 126 Mitcham Vic 3132 ( Victoria, Australia )

Home ] Up ] Aberdeen Finch ] African Silverbill ] [ Aurora Finch ] Bamboo Parrotfinch ] Bengalese Mannikin ] Black headed Nun ] Black headed Siskin ] Black rumped Waxbill ] Canary ] Chaffinch ] Cordon Bleu Waxbill ] Cuban Finch ] Dybowski's Twinspot ] Eurasian Siskin ] European Greenfinch ] European Serin ] European Siskin ] Golden Song Sparrow ] Goldfinch ] Green backed Twinspot ] Green Singing Finch ] Green Strawberry Finch ] Grey headed Silverbill ] Grey Singing Finch ] Himalayan Greenfinch ] Hooded Red Siskin ] Hooded Yellow Siskin ] Jacarini Finch ] Java Finch ] Javan Munia ] Lavender Waxbill ] Linnet ] Melba Finch ] Mexican Rose Finch ] Orange breasted Waxbill ] Orange cheeked Waxbill ] Oriental Greenfinch ] Peale's Parrotfinch ] Peter's Twinspot ] Pin tailed Parrotfinch ] Plain backed Sparrow ] Purple Finch ] Purple Grenadier Waxbill ] Pytilia ] Red billed Firefinch ] Red Crested Cardinal ] Red crested Finch ] Red faced Parrotfinch ] Red headed Parrotfinch ] Redpoll Finch ] Red Strawberry Finch ] Rufous backed Mannikin ] St. Helena Seedeater ] St. Helena Waxbill ] Saffron Finch ] Silver headed Nun ] Spice Finch ] Tri coloured Nun ] Tri coloured Parrotfinch ] Violet eared Waxbill ] White bellied Canary ] White rumped Munia ] Yellowhammer ] Yellow rumped Serin ] Yellow rumped Siskin ]

. Aurora finch
This page is Sponsored By:
Your Name, Your Address
Refer to "Advertise on web" web page
We specialise in xxxxxxxx birds / product
Contact us on:  (0X) XXXX XXXX
or e-mail us @  .............
  • Scientific Name:  Pytilia phoenicoptera = Red winged.   Pytilia hypogrammica = Yellow winged Pytilia.
  • Common Name/s:  AURORA FINCH,  AURORA WAXBILL,  CRIMSON WINGED PYTILIA,  RED FACED PYTILIA,  RED WINGED PYTILIA,  YELLOW WINGED PYTILIA.
  • Sub Species in country / area of origin:  3.
  • Origin / Distribution:  Thin band across central African continent.
  • Habitat In Wild:  Woodlands and farmlands
  • Status In Wild:  Yellow winged = Rare.
  • Status In (Australian) Captivity:  Red Winged = Secure.  Red faced and yellow winged are harder to find.
  • Age To Sexual Maturity:  At least 12 months.
  • Best breeding years (estimate):  2nd - 5th year
  • Lifespan (estimate):  about 7 - 8 years
  • Sexing: Monomorphic / Dimorphic
  • Mutations:  No
  • Availability:  Bird dealers and specialist breeders.
  • Temperament:  Do well in a mixed finch collection with one pair of these birds per aviary. Generally less aggressive than the Melba Finch.
  • Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Red faced (Approx.) $250.  Red Winged approx. $100.  Yellow winged approx. $500.
  • Description Of Adults:
  1. Length: Approx.115 - 120 mm (or about  4.5 - 5 inches)
  2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo/s above if available.
  3. Weight: Approx. 12 -15 gms (or about 1/2 ozs)
Aviary Notes:

Read notes on "Finches - Non Australian" web page and use in conjunction with details outlined on this page.

Level Of Knowledge Required: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws: Refer to "Government Laws" web page.

Housing Requirements: Click on "Housing birds" web page for general details on the housing of Non Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.

The Aurora finch likes a planted aviary. The Aurora finch likes to forage on the ground so care must be taken to ensure the floor of the aviary or cage is kept clean.  Mating and courtship may take place at ground level so it is preferable to have an open area on the floor of the aviary.  The open area on the floor is often covered with a layer of dry sand.

They can be bred in a Canary style breeder cage of about 900mm long x 400mm high x 400mm deep (36 x 16 x 16 inches).  Only one breeding pair per cage.

Do not mix the different types of Aurora finch as the birds will hybridize. The Aurora is closely related to the Melba Finch and should not be housed with Melba's so as to avoid hybridization.

Diet / Feeding: Click on "Feeding birds" web page for general details on the nutrition of  Non Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.

The Aurora finch requires a good quality finch seed mix, seeding grasses and some fruits (e.g. apple) and vegetables.  Leafy green vegetables can be offered, e.g. silverbeet, cos lettuce & endive.  Sprouted or soaked seed if available.  Live food is not essential during the non-breeding season but is beneficial.  Live food is essential during the breeding season.  Mealworms are commonly used.  Small crickets can be used.

Basic seed mix should include Canary seed, White French Millet, Japanese Millet, and Yellow and Red Panicum.

Nesting: A basic overview only.

  • Roosting nest:  No
  • Nesting months: Spring to early autumn, but may breed year round if conditions are suitable.
  • Nesting receptacles: The Aurora finch will build a dome shaped nest in a shrub or dry brush such as tea tree. Equally it will build a nest in a wide variety of artificial nests.
  • Nest: The cock bird will make a dome shaped nest from grasses, coconut fibre, moss and soft materials. Nest is lined by the hen with feathers and soft fine grasses.
  • Who incubates the eggs: Hen at night/ cock / both share during the day.

The nest is usually built at mid height in the aviary.  Nest inspections are not recommended.
Young should be removed from the parent birds as soon as they are fully independent so as to avoid possible aggression from a parent.
More details on finch nests and a selection of finch nest photos can be located on the "nests", "finch nests" and "finch nest photos" web pages.  Click on "Up" then "nests" then "finch nests" and "finch nests photos" in the navigation bars.

Breeding: Egg Colour White.  Clutch/s per year 3.  Eggs per nest 3 - 5.  Incubation approx. 12 - 13 days.  Fledge approx. 21 days.  Independent approx. another 3 - 4 weeks.

Do not mix the different types of Aurora finch as the birds will hybridize.
Live food is essential during the breeding season.
Nest inspections are generally not tolerated.
Adequate new nest material must be available for the hen to rebuild the old nest or build a new nest for the next clutch.
The Aurora finch is closely related to the Melba Finch and should not be housed with Melba's so as to avoid hybridization.
It is best to restrict the adult breeding pair to 3 clutches per breeding season.

Young birds (when they become fully independent) must be removed when bred in a cage.  Generally safe to remove the young from the parent birds about 4 weeks after they have left the nest.

Artificial incubation, hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site. It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.  Refer "Specific References" as listed below and "General References" listings.

Health Issues: Refer "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

  • Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new birds or sick birds are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site. Refer above option "Avian Health Issues" web page.
  • Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace. Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References: Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

  • Australian Aviculture
  • A/A Vol 59 No. 11 Nov 2005 Page 255-259 (Background notes on some African Waxbills).
  • A/A Vol 59 No. 2 Feb 2005 Page 25-26 (Yellow winged pytilia-Cover photo).
  • A/A Vol 25 No. 2 Feb 1971 Page 21-22.
  • A/A Vol 14 No 2 Feb 1960 Page 22-23.
  • A/A Vol 11 No 1 Jan 1957 Page 8.
  • A/A Vol 8 No 8 Aug 1954 Page 89-90.
  • A/A Vol 8 No 7 Jul 1954 Page 88.
  • A/A Vol 7 No 8 Aug 1953 Page 99.
  • Australian Birdkeeper
  • ABK Vol 18 Issue 11. Oct-Nov 2005 Page 676-681 (What's genetically pure and what's not)
  • ABK Vol 15 Issue 3. Jun-Jul 2002 Page 157-158.
  • ABK Vol 4 Issue 10. Aug-Sept 1991 Page 465-469

Top of - Aurora finch- Page

BirdCare.com.au is one of the world's largest and most informative avian or bird web sites.  Copyright  BirdCare.com.au 2002 - 2008 inc.  All rights reserved.  Disclaimer:  This web site has been compiled from material provided from a large number of sources.  Personal experience and personal contacts have been used.  Results vary according to factors such as environmental factors, aviary design and the physical and genetic backgrounds of all living birds/animals.  Every endeavour has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material but no responsibility is accepted by BirdCare.com.au  for the accuracy of the material on this web site. The intent of this web site is to provide a "care sheet"  format and provide general material only.  Readers should rely upon their own enquiries in making any decisions relating to their own interests.