. Blue faced Parrot finch
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- An Australian Finch
(Click on photo to enlarge)
- Scientific Name: Erythrura
trichroa
- Common Name/s: BLUE
FACED PARROTFINCH.
- Sub Species in country / area of origin:
One in Australia,
but about 8 other subspecies are recognized to the north of
Australia. A total of about 9.
- Origin / Distribution: Cape York
Peninsula and northern islands including Papua & New Guinea
- Habitat In Wild: Northern Queensland
rainforest, grasslands and farmlands.
- Status In Wild: Rare
- Status In (Australian) Captivity:
Secure
- Age To Sexual Maturity: about
5 - 6
months.
- Adult plumage: attained by about
4
months of age..
- Best breeding years (estimate): 12
months - 4th year
- Lifespan (estimate): approx.
7 - 8
years
- Sexing: Monomorphic
/ Dimorphic. Sexing can be difficult.
DNA sexing may be necessary.
- Mutations: Yes
- Availability: Pet shops & bird
dealers
- Temperament: The Blue faced
Parrotfinch is generally a good
breeder in a large planted aviary and does best as one pair per
aviary. Suitable for inclusion in a mixed collection. May breed year round.
Breeders who are trying to produce a specific colour mutation
usually bred one pair in a large canary style cage. Can
be bred as a colony in a large aviary.
- Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: -
Normal colour (Approx.) $60 - $70
- Description Of Adults:
- Length: Approx.120 mm (or about 5 inches)
- Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer
photo above -
top right of page. (Click on photo to enlarge).
- Weight: Approx.16 gms (or about 1/2 oz)
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.
The Blue faced Parrotfinch prefers a densely planted aviary; dense shrubs and tall grasses are
ideal. Best results are achieved
with one pair of Parrotfinches in a mixed collection per aviary.
Can be bred indoors in a cabinet of about 900mm long x 400mm deep x
400mm high (36 x 16 x 16 inches).
Only one species of Parrotfinches should be housed in each aviary as
they may hybridize with any of the other species of Parrotfinches.
Spare cock birds should not be housed with breeding pairs.
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 Blue faced Parrotfinch requires a good quality finch seed mix, seeding grasses
and some fruits (e.g. apple) and green leafy vegetables. Live food is essential especially at breeding season.
Mealworms are ideal, also small crickets and small locusts can be
offered. Sprouted or soaked seed if available.
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: Breed well
in captivity.
May breed all year round but best not to breed them through the
winter months in the southern Australian states.
- Nesting receptacles:
The Blue faced Parrotfinch prefers dense shrubs or dry brush such as tea tree but will nest in
a hollow log or a nest box. A half open nest box 150mm x 150mm
x 150mm (6 x 6 x 6 inches) is adequate.
- Nest: Domed pear
shaped built with grasses, coconut fibre and other suitable materials, usually with an
tunnel entrance. Nest is lined with soft fine grasses.
Nest is usually built in the upper part of the aviary.
- Who incubates the eggs: Hen /
cock / both share.
Parent birds generally reuse the nest
for subsequent clutches. Adequate new nest material must be
available for the birds to refurbish the old nest or build a new nest
for the next clutch. Some birds may use an abandoned nest and renovate
it.
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 - 4. Eggs per nest 4 - 6. Incubation
approx. 14 days. Fledge approx. 21 days.
Independent approx. another 21 - 28 days.
The Blue faced Parrotfinch is probably the easiest of the Parrot Finches to breed. Best results are achieved
in a mixed finch collection with one pair of Blue faced parrot finches per aviary.
Only one species of Parrotfinches should be housed in each aviary as
they may hybridize with any of the other species of Parrotfinches.
Hens should be allowed time to fully
mature before commencing breeding. Although they can start breeding at
about 9 months, best results are achieved if the hen
is 12 months old prior to starting breeding. Generally good
reliable parents.
The young can generally be left with their parents after they become
independent.
A leg ring can be placed on the leg of
the young Blue faced Parrotfinch bird as soon as it leaves 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 "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:
-
Australian
Aviculture
- A/A Vol 56 No. 11 Nov 2002 Page 241-242
- A/A Vol 55 No. 12 Dec 2001 Page 273-276 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 50 No. 7 July 1996 Page 149-150 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 50 No. 3 Mar 1996 Page 49-51 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 42 No. 11 Nov 1988 Page 281-282
- A/A Vol 38 No. 11 Nov 1984 Page 259-268 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 37 No. 4 Apr 1983 Page 79-81
- A/A Vol 35 No. 4 Apr 1981 Page 82-85
- A/A Vol 31 No. 12 Dec 1977 Page
177-181 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 30 No. 6 Jun 1976 Page 98
- A/A Vol 29 No. 9 Sept 1975 Page 129-130
- A/A Vol 12 No 5 May 1958 Page 61-62.
- A/A Vol 8 No 6 Jun 1954 Page 76.
- A/A Vol 8 No 3 Mar 1954 Page 38.
- A/A Vol 7 No 1 Jan 1953 Page 12.
- A/A Vol 6 No 12 Dec 1952 Page 137-138.
- The Bulletin No 13, Oct 1943 Page 2 - 3.
- The Bulletin No 4, Nov 1942 Page 1
(The breeding of finches - conclusion).
- Australian Birdkeeper
- ABK Vol 11 Issue 1. Feb-Mar 1998 Page 13-15 (Part 2)
- ABK Vol 10 Issue 12 Dec-Jan 1998 Page 593-595 (Part 1)
- ABK Vol 7 Issue 3. Jun-July 1994 Page 121-123
- ABK Vol 5 Issue 1. Feb-Mar 1992 Page 40-44
- ABK Vol 4 Issue 8. Apr-May 1991 Page 381-385
- ABK Vol 2 Issue 11. Oct-Nov 1989 Page 435-438
- ABK Vol 1 Issue 4. Aug-Sept 1988 Page 123
- ABK Vol 1 Issue 3 Jun-July 1988 Page 74-75
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