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

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. Red strawberry finch
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  • Scientific Name: Amandava amandava
  • Common Name/s: RED STRAWBERRY FINCH,  RED AVADAVAT,  STRAWBERRY FINCH.
  • Sub Species in country / area of origin:  3 or 4
  • Origin / Distribution:  India, Indo-China, and parts of Indonesia.
  • Habitat In Wild: Grasslands, open cultivated fields and suburban areas. Likes wet marshy areas with tall reeds and grasses.
  • Status In Wild: Secure
  • Status In (Australian) Captivity: Secure but not common. The Red Strawberry finch is more common than the Green Strawberry finch. Hens are harder to find than cock birds.
  • Age To Sexual Maturity: about 8 months
  • Adult plumage: attained at about 3 - 4 months
  • Best breeding years (estimate): 2nd - 5th.
  • Lifespan (estimate): About 7 - 8 years, up to 10.
  • Sexing: Monomorphic / Dimorphic... The cock bird has a nuptial and an eclipse plumage.
  • Mutations: No
  • Availability: Bird dealers
  • Temperament: Popular bird in Australian aviaries. Usually has a peaceful nature and suitable for a mixed species collection.
  • Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx.) $120
  • Description Of Adults: The cock bird has a nuptial and an eclipse plumage.  The cock bird resembles the hen during the non-breeding season.
  1. Length: Approx. 95 - 100 mm (or approx. 3.5 - 4 inches)
  2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo/s above if available.
  3. Weight: Approx. 9 gms (or approx. 1/3 oz)
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 Red Strawberry finch usually has a peaceful nature and suitable for a mixed species collection in a planted aviary. Can be bred as a colony. Can be bred as a single pair in a large canary style cage but results may not be as good as in an aviary.

Best results are obtained when housed in an aviary of about 3 metres long with low growing dense shrubs and tall growing grasses including potted bamboo plants.

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 Red Strawberry finch requires a good quality finch mix, seeding grasses and some fruits (e.g. apple) and some green leafy vegetables.  Live food is essential especially at breeding season.  Mealworms, 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: Yes / No
  • Nesting months: February/March to end of September/October.  May breed year round if conditions are suitable.
  • Nesting receptacles: The Red Strawberry finch will build a nest in a shrub or dry brush.  Equally it will build a nest in a wide variety of artificial nests.  In a breeding cage they will use a wooden nest box with the top half of the front removed or a cane nest.
  • Nest: Both parent birds build a small spherical nest with a side tunnel entrance.  Nest is made of grasses.  Nest is lined with fine soft grasses and feathers. November grass is ideal as a nest lining material. Nest is about 150mm (6 inches) in diameter. Nests may be built at any height in the aviary, except ground level.
  • Who incubates the eggs: Hen / cock / both share.  The hen incubates during the night.

Nest inspection is generally well tolerated. However, some pairs will desert the nest if you inspect or touch the nest.

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. 11 - 14 days.  Fledge approx. 20 - 21 days.  Independent approx. another 3 - 4 weeks.

The cock Red Strawberry finch has a nuptial and an eclipse plumage.

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 to build a new nest for the next clutch. In an aviary it is generally safe to leave the young in the same aviary after they become independent. 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 4 weeks after they have left the nest.

Leg rings can be placed on the young birds as soon as they leave the nest.

The Red Strawberry finch can be bred as a single pair in a large canary style cage but results may not be as good as in an aviary.

The Red Strawberry finch will hybridize with birds such as the Green Strawberry Finch and the Orange breasted Waxbill.

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 6 Jun 2005 Page 129-132 (Inc colour photo).
  • A/A Vol 57 No 9 Sept 2003 Page 204-205.
  • A/A Vol 57 No. 3 Mar 2003 Page 58-61 (Inc. photo).
  • A/A Vol 47 No. 9 Sept 1993 Page 216-220 (Inc photo)
  • A/A Vol 30 No. 12 Dec 1976 Page 183-184
  • A/A Vol 20 No 6 Jun 1966 Page 80, 84 (Inc colour plate).
  • A/A Vol 18 No 4 Apr 1964 Page 56-58.
  • A/A Vol 14 No 6 Jun 1960 Page 85.
  • A/A Vol  1 No 11 Nov 1947.
  • The Bulletin No 21, July 1944 Page 7 - 8.
  • Australian Birdkeeper
  • ABK Vol 18 Issue 11. Oct-Nov 2005 Page 676-681 (What's genetically pure and what's not)
  • ABK Vol  4 Issue 9. Jun-July 1991 Page 403-406

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