What You Need To Know About FINCHES Before Bringing Them Home

A black-headed Gouldian Finch at Frankfurt Zoo, Germany. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Finches are colorful, energetic birds that can be found in many parts of the world. There are different species of finches and about sixteen of them are found in North America. Finches are small birds and their sizes range from 4 inches to 9 inches. Science journals and nature magazines will describe them as having bright feathers and a conical bill.

Colors and Determining Sex

What attracts many pet lovers to finches are their bright colors. Different species of finches have different colors. The American Goldfinch, for example, has predominantly golden feathers, as its name implies. The purple finch has a somewhat purple, reddish color with streaks of black on their wings. According to official finches information, most finches come in brown and green plumage, and you will notice a general lack of white colors. Some breeds of finches are dichromatic, which means you can distinguish the gender by studying their colors. The males usually have bright markings as opposed to the paler colors of the females.

Location

While finches are mostly native to the southern hemisphere, there are plenty of breeds that can be found in North America. In fact, there is a family called the American Rose finches, which includes the purple finch, Cassin's finch, and the House finch. There are finches that migrate to the continental United States at specific periods of the year because of food scarcity and extreme winters. These include the Redpoll and the Pine Grosbeak. You can check more finches information and geography on many authority sites on the internet.

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Feeding

Most finches feed on seeds, particularly the American Goldfinch. They love eating thistle seeds as well as the seeds of spruce and pine. Many aviary journals have complete finches information on specific diets for particular species of finches. Dandelion and chickweed make an excellent meal for tiny birds. You can also feed them eggshells and cuttlefish bone to increase their calcium intake. Make sure to heat the eggshells in order to kill fungi and bacteria. In most cases, your pet finches would be delighted on a simple meal of fruits and vegetables.

Health

Finches have a lifespan of 4 to 8 years. The best way to maximize their lifespan is by giving them the best possible care. It is important to spot signs of illness early on so that you can treat them accordingly. Finches information shows that common illnesses include, swollen eyes, fluffed out feathers, loss of appetite, general lack of energy, etc. Bring the birds to a veterinarian for proper care and attention.

Basic care of your finches includes giving them food and fresh water on a daily basis. It is also important to sanitize the cage at least once a week to avoid the birds catching diseases. You must also place a water bath inside the cage because these birds love dipping in water every now and then as a form of their bathing ritual. Breeding finches is an exciting endeavor but you must have complete finches information to do it successfully. All in all, finches are enjoyable creatures that can brighten up your home life.

By Kevin F. Green - Article Source: EzineArticles

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The Wild Canary (AMERICAN GOLDFINCH)

Growing up in the Northeast and spending most of my time in the country it was always a big deal to spot certain wildlife. We would drive through the country and try to spot groundhogs, turkeys, and deer. We also looked for hawks and woodpeckers and our favorite types of birds. I was always partial to the Wild Canary which is also known as the American Goldfinch.

American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis,  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Wild Canary is a very pretty bright yellow with a touch of black on their face and wings. However, not all of them display such a splendid yellow hue. Many of them are more of a greenish tint with a hint of brown. We didn't see them all that often so it was a real treat when we did.

This small bird is part of the finch family. In bird terms, it is a 'passerine' bird. The passerines are perching birds and belong to the order of the Passeriformes. This means they have 4 toes with 3 pointed forwards and one backward for gripping and perching.

Passerines make up around 60% of all bird species. The Passerine species are very extensive and very diverse.

Wild Canary Breeding And Diet

The Wild Canaries are monogamous breeders. They breed mostly in cultivated fields full of weeds and in deciduous woodland areas. The number of broods per season is 2.

They feed on berries, floral buds, grass, and the seeds from deciduous trees. They are ground gleaners. The chicks are fed a diet of insects and regurgitated milky seed pulp.

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Nesting And Eggs

The Wild Canary usually makes its nest in the fork of a tree branch. They weave their nests to tightly they will repel water. They build their nests out of pliable vegetation and then line them with plant down. They will make use of spider silk or caterpillar webbing to bind up the nest's outer rim.

While nest construction is going on the males will many times gather nesting materials and bring them to the female who applies them to her home. They prefer to build their nests near water sources. The male will also bring food to the female while she sits the nest. Females might sit on the nest up to 95% of the time being dependent on the male for their food supply.

The males display 'nest-site' tenacity and will defend their nests fervently.

The eggs are of a bluish-white or pale blue color and are unmarked. They measure about 16mm in diameter. The incubation period lasts from 10 to 12 days. The chicks are born Altricial which means no feathers, blind, and totally helpless.

The hatching of the eggs is asynchronous. The older birds tend to nest earlier than the younger.

Wintering For The Wild Canary

These little beauties head south for the winter to Northern Mexico. You can find them all along the coast of Veracruz. They commonly join in with flocks of up to 300 birds during winter migrations.

The Wild Canary has always been, and will always be, something I look forward to seeing and enjoying each and every year.

By Jack C Arnett My name is Jack Arnett. I am a Kentucky native and an avid bird watcher. Article Source: EzineArticles

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ZEBRA FINCHES As Pets

If you've decided to take the plunge and get a few Zebra finches as pets, then bravo to you! This kind of bird makes for a great companion at home. While a lot of other people prefer different kinds of pets to take home, we're loyal to this kind. Why is that? Well, if you read our reasons below, you'll easily see why these birds make great household pets!

Taeniopygia guttata (Zebra finch) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Benefits of Getting Zebra Finches

1. They are a hardy type of bird- Many homeowners get discouraged from keeping birds of any sort in their home because they can be easily affected by different diseases. In truth, a lot of birds really do get sick, and eventually die because of different things that they get from their other birds, or even the environment. Luckily, Zebra Finches birds are not these types of birds. This kind of finch is very resilient and can withstand different sorts of diseases. The immune system of these birds seems to be much stronger compared to other varieties of Finches.

2. These guys are very easy to breed- if your reason for investing in these birds is to eventually breed them, then you will make the right choice by going with these birds. Zebra finches breed much more easily compared to other sorts of finches. In fact, this bird is an excellent variety for the bird breeder who is just starting out. Other Finch owners and breeders have even observed that this variety of Finch has the tendency to breed TOO much, so if you do not want any more of these birds in your home, then it may be best to just get females.

3. They are the easiest to maintain- while it is normal to experience different kinds of problems with other kinds of finches, it is a rarity in the case of the Zebra Finch. These birds are really very easy to maintain, making them the ideal pet for people with busy and active lifestyles, children, and those that live in tiny and limited spaces. What's more, is that this kind of feathered friend does not take up much space, and has a soothing and lovely chirp to boot.

We hope we've stated our case well enough, and you are now inclined to get a Finch of your own. You'll find that keeping these birds in your home can bring much entertainment, amusement, and overall enjoyment!

By Michael M Stanford - Article Source: EzineArticles

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