. Red browed finch
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- An Australian Finch
- Scientific Name: Red browed finch =
Neochmia temporalis (previously Aegintha temporalis);
Lesser Red Browed finch = Neochmia temporalis minor (Previously Aegintha temporalis minor)
- Common Name/s: RED
BROWED FINCH, SYDNEY WAXBILL, RED BROWED FIRETAIL, RED
BROWED WAXBILL.
- Sub Species:
3
- Origin / Distribution: East coast
of Australia. South Australia to top of Queensland. Lesser Red
browed is from the Northern parts of Queensland.
- Habitat In Wild: Grasslands
and treed areas and have adapted to use suburban areas to feed and
breed. Red browed covers a vast area and inhabits an equally
diverse habitat. Feral populations of Red browed finches have
established in Western Australia.
- Status In Wild: Common but
numbers are decreasing.
- Status In (Australian) Captivity:
Red browed = common. Lesser red browed = rare.
- Age To Sexual Maturity: ?
- Adult plumage: attained at about 3
months of age
- Best breeding years (estimate):
2nd - 4th year
- Lifespan (estimate): About 6
- 7 years. One of the shorter lived finches.
- Sexing: Monomorphic
/ Dimorphic
- Mutations: Yes
- Availability: Pet shops and bird
dealers
- Temperament: Prefers a planted
aviary. Does well in a mixed finch collection. Generally a quiet
bird but may be aggressive at breeding season.
- Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: -
Normal colour (Approx) $60. Lesser Red browed about $800
- Description Of Adults: Below
details refer to the Red browed. The Lesser Red browed is
smaller in size (about 90 - 95mm) and weight.
- Length: Approx. 100 - 115 mm (or approx 4.5 inches)
- Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer
photo/s above if available.
- Weight: Approx. 9 gms (or approx 1/3 oz)
The Neochmia genus comprises the Crimson finch Neochmia phaeton,
the Red browed finch Neochmia temporalis, The Star finch Neochmia
ruficauda, and the Plum headed finch Neochmia modesta.
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" 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 Red browed finch prefers a planted aviary. Although
they can be kept with other finches, only one pair of either type of Red
brewed finches should be housed per aviary. Red browed and Lesser
Red browed will hybridize so they must not be housed together.
Best breeding results occur when housed
as a colony in a suitably large planted aviary.
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 Red browed finch requires a good quality finch mix, seeding grasses
and some fruits (e.g. apple). Live food is beneficial throughout
the year and essential during breeding season.
Small mealworms and other small insects 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: Yes -
communal roosting nests in the wild. This may not be practised in
captivity.
- Nesting months:
October to April
- Nesting receptacles:
Lesser Red browed will make their nest in shrubs, or dry brush such as tea tree.
Red browed prefer to nest in growing shrubs and dense plants.
- Nest: Both parents
build a pear shaped nest
made of grasses and other suitable materials. Nest is lined
with feathers and soft fine grasses.
- Who incubates the eggs:
Hen / cock / both share.
Nest is built in the higher parts of the
aviary. Can be aggressive and territorial at breeding time.
In the wild the birds will use thorny
bushes and dense climbing plants. Rose bushes and blackberry
bushes are used. In an aviary they will build their nests in these
bushes if they are available.
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 13 - 14 days. Fledge approx. 18 - 21 days.
Independent approx. another 21 - 28 days.
Lesser Red browed finch may lay more clutches
than the Red browed finch.
Pair bonding is strong. Birds that are allowed
to choose their own partner are usually more productive than birds that
have their partner chosen for them by the aviculturalist.
They are
generally intolerant of nest inspections.
For best breeding results the
Red browed
finch requires live food.
An adaptable bird that can be housed one
pair per aviary or in a mixed species collection or a colony.
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 57 No. 6 June 2003 Page 132-133.
- A/A Vol 56 No. 2 Feb 2002 Page 21-22
- A/A Vol 50 No. 2 Feb 1996 Page 25-28 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 49 No. 8 Aug 1995 Page 181-183
- A/A Vol 48 No. 6 June 1994 Page 147-149 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 41 No. 5 May 1987 Page 108-109
- A/A Vol 39 No. 4 Apr 1985 Page
78-79
- A/A Vol 39 No. 2 Feb 1985 Page 43-44
- A/A Vol 38 No. 8
Aug 1984 Page 193-198
- A/A Vol 38 No. 4
Apr 1984 Page 84-87 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 36 No. 9
Sept 1982 Page 193-195 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 32 No. 5 May 1978 Page 65-66
- A/A Vol 22 No 9 Sept 1968 Page 129-130.
- A/A Vol 21 No 7 Jul 1967 Page 89-90.
- A/A Vol 8 No 2 Feb 1954 Page 18-19.
- A/A Vol 7 No 6 Jun 1953 Page 72.
- A/A Vol 6 No 8 Aug 1952 Page 99.
- A/A Vol 3 No 9 Sept 1949 Page 98 (Sexing Aust. finches).
-
A/A Vol 2 No 12 Dec 1948 Page 93-94.
- A/A Vol 1 No 4 Apr 1947.
- Australian Birdkeeper
- ABK Vol 18 Issue 11. Oct-Nov 2005 Page 676-681 (What's
genetically pure and what's not)
- ABK Vol 14 Issue 8. Apr-May 2001 Page 427-430.
- ABK Vol 6 Issue 11. Oct-Nov 1993 Page 556-558
- ABK Vol 6 Issue 10. Aug-Sept 1993 Page 479-482
- ABK Vol 2 Issue 12. Dec-Jan 1990 Page 473-477
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