. Black rumped waxbill
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- Scientific Name: Estrilda
troglodytes
- Common Name/s:
BLACK RUMPED WAXBILL, SENEGAL FINCH, SENEGAL WAXBILL, RED EARED
WAXBILL, PINK CHEEKED WAXBILL.
- Sub Species in country / area of origin: None
- Origin / Distribution: Band across
African continent below the Sahara desert.
- Habitat In Wild: Arid to semi
arid areas.
- Status In Wild: Not common.
- Status In (Australian) Captivity:
Rare
- Age To Sexual Maturity: ?
- Best breeding years (estimate):
2nd - 5th
- Lifespan (estimate): About 8
years
- Sexing: Monomorphic
/ Dimorphic
- Mutations: None
- Availability: Specialist breeders
- Temperament: Shy, nervous
birds. Best housed in a planted aviary. Usually make a nest close to
the ground.
- Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: -
Normal colour (Approx.) $3000
- Description Of Adults:
- Length: Approx. 90 mm (or about 3.5 inches)
- Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer
photo/s above if available.
- Weight: Approx. 8 gms (or about 1/4 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 Black rumped waxbill may be kept with other finches but with their rarity in Australian
aviaries it would be best to give them an aviary of their own.
They will build a nest close to the ground so low growing shrubs and
tall growing grasses should be provided. Although they tend to
nest at a low height, they use all parts/heights within the aviary.
Many pairs will perch next to their partner and when the young fledge
the family unit may perch together with their bodies touching.
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 Black rumped waxbill requires a good quality finch seed mix, seeding grasses
and green vegetables. Live food is essential especially at breeding season.
Small mealworms, small crickets and small locusts are ideal. Sprouted
or soaked seed if available.
Basic seed mix should include Canary
seed, Japanese Millet, and Yellow and Red Panicum.
Nesting:
A basic overview only.
- Roosting nest:
Yes / No
- Nesting months: Spring
and summer
- Nesting receptacles:
They will build a nest close to the ground or in some instances on
the ground in long grass. Will
build a nest in dry brush located higher in the aviary.
- Nest: Both birds build
a pear shaped nest out of grasses. The nest may include
a "cock's nest" above the main breeding chamber. The nest usually has a tunnel
entrance that points outwards and downwards. Nest is lined
with feathers and soft fine grasses.
- Who incubates the eggs: Hen / cock /
both share.
The Black rumped waxbill generally build a new nest for each clutch.
Adequate nest material must be available throughout the breeding season.
They will build a nest close to the ground so low growing shrubs and
tall growing grasses should be provided. Although they tend to
nest at a low height, they use all parts/heights within the aviary.
The nest may include a "cock's nest"
above the main breeding chamber. If an artificial nest is provided
for the Black rumped Waxbill, make sure the volume of the nest box is
large enough for the birds to build the "cock's nest" above the main
breeding chamber. If the main body of the artificial nest is not
large enough to allow a normal size cock's nest to be built, then two
nests can be tied or joined together, one on top of the other.
This may allow the construction of a full sized main nest and the
construction of a cock's nest in the top structure.
The birds have to approach the true nest entrance from below as they are
unable to fly straight into the entrance tunnel. The birds show a
deal of flying skills to enter the tunnel from below the nest entry
tunnel. Some birds may alight on the upper part of the nest and
climb down the outside of the nest till they are able to do some
"gymnastics" and enter the nest tunnel.
The adult birds keep the main nest clean of any faecal material.
No care is taken to keep the cock's nest free of faecal material or
other unhygienic material. In the wild, dead baby birds have been
incorporated into the top of the nest. The smell of the decaying
material and other offensive material may deter predators from entering
the nest. If a predator does enter or try to enter the cock's
nest, it may give the adult bird in the real nest extra time to escape
before the predator realises it has been deceived. The adult bird
will have an increased chance to live and raise another clutch.
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 2 - 3. Eggs per nest 4 - 6. Incubation
approx. 12 days. Fledge approx. 21 days.
Independent approx. another 4 weeks.
Nest inspection is often very difficult. Nest inspection should be kept to an absolute minimum to avoid
upsetting either parent bird.
Breeding birds can form a strong
pair-bond. Birds that have the opportunity to choose their own
partner, such as in a colony situation, are usually more productive than
those offered only one choice. Allowing the birds to choose their
own mate at a young age usually means the formation of a happy
productive pair. With numbers of these birds in Australia being
low, the ability to give young birds the choice of partner is very
limited. Successfully changing a bird's
partner may result in a long wait till breeding recommences.
The young Black rumped waxbills usually leave the nest at the
same time, or within a 24 hour period. Both parent birds feed the young. The young may return to the nest for
about one week after fledging.
Bonded pairs may engage in mutual preening and roost together.
Bengalese may be used if a foster parent
is required.
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 58 No. 9 Sept 2004 Page 193-196.
- A/A Vol 54 No. 5 May 2000 Page 100-104
- Australian Birdkeeper
- ABK Vol 13 Issue 4. Aug-Sept 2000 Page 221
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