. Beautiful firetail finch
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- An Australian Finch
- Scientific Name: Emblema bella
- Common Name/s:
BEAUTIFUL FIRETAIL FINCH.
- Sub Species:
None
- Origin / Distribution: Along the
coastline of south-east Australia (Victoria & South Australia) plus Tasmania
and Kangaroo island. Tasmania's
only native finch.
- Habitat In Wild:
Open scrubland and coastal heath.
- Status In Wild:
Rare or uncommon. Probably declining due to interference to or
loss of its natural habitat.
- Status In (Australian) Captivity:
Rare
- Age To Sexual Maturity:
About 9 - 12 months
- Adult plumage: attained at about
6
months
- Best breeding years (estimate):
2nd - 5th
- Lifespan (estimate): approx. 6 - 8
years
- Sexing: Monomorphic
/ Dimorphic
The hen lacks the black patch on the abdomen.
- Colour mutations: None
- Availability: Rare. Specialist
breeders.
- Temperament:
The Beautiful firetail finch need a large, well planted
aviary and best kept one pair per aviary. Young need to be
removed from the parent birds aviary when they become independent.
They are shy, elusive birds that are usually found as solitary
pairs.
- Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: -
Normal colour (Approx.) $1500
- Description Of Adults:
- Length: Approx. 115 mm (or
approx 4.5 inches)
- Colour ("normal" colour): Refer
photo/s above if available.
- Weight: Approx. - gms (or approx.
- ozs)
Aviary Notes:
Read notes
on "Finches - 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 Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.
Although the the Beautiful
firetail finch can successfully be
bred in a mixed species finch aviary, they are best housed in a well
planted aviary of their own as one pair per
aviary. They like to inhabit dense vegetation. Numbers in captivity are low so eliminating all possible
negative influences on these birds will no doubt help in the raising of
more successful clutches.
A planted aviary of about 2000mm x
1000mm x 2100mm high ( 6 x 3.5 x 7 feet) is a good size for one pair.
Often housed as one pair in large
planted aviary but can be successfully bred in a smaller finch cabinet
of approx 1000mm long x 600mm high and 600mm deep (3.5 x 2 x 2 feet). Only one pair
per cabinet.
Diet / Feeding:
Click on "Feeding birds"
web page for general details on the
nutrition of Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this
finch.
The Beautiful firetail finch requires a good quality finch seed mix, seeding grasses
and green leafy vegetables such as silverbeet, endive, cos lettuce and spinach.
Some seasonally available fruits and vegetables can be offered. Live food is
beneficial at breeding season
and beneficial throughout the rest of the year. Mealworms, small crickets
and small locusts are
good. Sprouted or soaked seed if available. Most breeders
use insect live foods but some have had breeding success without using
any insect live foods during the breeding season.
A large proportion of the food intake for these birds is greenfoods.
Published articles have quoted the proportion of greenfoods in a
balanced diet to be up to 80 per cent.
Nesting:
A basic overview only.
- Roosting nest: Yes
- Nesting months: September/October to
January
- Nesting receptacles:
The Beautiful firetail prefers to make their nest in a simulated
natural spot such as dried brush, shrubs and grasses.
- Nest: Dome shaped nest
made out of grasses and some twigs and with a long tunnel entrance. Nest is
lined with feathers and soft fine grasses. The nest is large
and about twice as big as that of the Diamond Firetail.
- Who incubates the eggs:
Hen / cock / both share.
As they build a large nest, adequate
quantities of nest material must be available. Give them a good
variety of nest materials.
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 .. usually 1. Eggs per nest 4 - 6. Incubation
approx 14 days. Fledge approx. 21 - 24 days.
Independent approx. another 7 - 10 days, but may be longer till
fully independent. May be 4 weeks after fledging before the young
can be removed from the parents.
Both parents feed and raise the young.
Although the the Beautiful
firetail finch can successfully be
bred in a mixed species finch aviary, they are best housed as one pair per
aviary. Numbers in captivity are low so eliminating all possible
negative influences on these birds will no doubt help in the raising of
more successful clutches.
Young need to be removed from the parent
birds aviary when they become fully independent.
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 "Avian Health Issues"
web page option.
- 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:
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