Home » Plants & Animals » Small Hookbills » Finches

Finches

© Mary Wilson

When thinking about adding to their flock, most people don't think about buying "down." Instead, prospective bird owners look at the bigger bird. Once content with a small hookbill, most people look at the larger birds, like macaws or greys to fill a space in their household. However, smaller birds, such as finches, can also be a great addition to the bird fancier's collection.

Finches provide us with the remarkable ability to observe a bit of nature in our homes. This doesn't mean, of course, that larger birds don't offer the same opporunity, just that the finches little slice of nature can be smaller. The corner aviary in a living room lets bird owners observe these creatures acting "naturally" as opposed to a pair of parrots in a cage. You can construct an aviary for parrots, but the space requirements might be more than the average homeowner wants to commit.

As a bird lover for many years, I must confess that I enjoy my finches as much as I enjoy my parrots. Sure, they don't sit on my shoulder or talk to me, but their antics provide hours of entertainment. Watching a pair of finches care for their young is an experience that one may not be able to have with more shy parrots, and their soft warbling song is a wonderful contract to parrot screeches.

So, what kind of finches should the novice purcase. Two of the most common species are thankfully two of the hardiest. Zebra finches and society finches can be found in just about any pet store, and breeders are willing to sell some of the more common varieties for just a few dollars. These birds reproduce well in captivity and in most types of zebra finches it is easy to tell the sexes apart, making it easy to keep a pair of the same sex.

Finches need to be kept in at least pairs. Highly social birds, they will not have you to add to their flock, so others of like species are highly desireable. Provide a cage that has enough room for a pair of birds to fly. The small, house-shaped cages sold at most pet stores are simply not large enough. Finches thrive on a good seed mix, fresh vegtables, egg food or hard boiled egg, or other "parrot" type food, cut into finch size. They don't require toys, though a swing would be much appreciated. With a simple set up, these birds can provide years of enjoyment.

The copyright of the article Finches in Small Hookbills is owned by Mary Wilson. Permission to republish Finches in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.