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Finch Varities

© Mary Wilson

Of all the birds kept as pets, none are so widely diversified as the finch. As members of the genus Poephilia, finches range across nearly every corner of the globe. They live on all the continents, ranging as far north as the Arctic in Canada. Their size varies from a couple of inches to over a foot long, when you count the tails of some exotic species. As for coloring, a quick glance in your own backyard will show you the variety of finches. From browns and blacks to brilliant blues, yellows, and oranges, finches can put a rainbow to shame.

Most of the commonly kept finches fall into one of these categories: Australian Finches, Parrot Finches, Mannikins, Waxbills, Whydahs, Warbling Finches, and Cardinals.

The group known as Australian finches contains undoubtedly, some of the most beautiful finches in the world. Lady Gouldian finches, owl finches, are star finches are some of the many members of this family. Most people think that Lady Gouldian finches are the most colorful. They come in many color combinations, with black, red or yellow, heads and even more widely colored bodies. It isn't uncommon for these finches to sport brilliant purple or deep red plumage.

Owl finches, or Bichenos, look like miniature owls. Their mewing calls sound different from most finches. Owls make excellent additions to an aviary.

The Shaftail or Longtailed Grassfinch also hails from Australia. These long, slender finches exhibit the Australian finch trait of striking contrasts in their coloration. With a gray head, orange beak, red feet and bold black barring, these birds look striking.

Star finches come from an environment of long grass stems, upon which they perch to find small seeds on insects. These beautifully colored birds have either red or yellow beaks and heads, an olive back and a yellow chest. White dots on the bird look like a cluster of stars, giving this finch its name.

Finally, the perennially popular zebra finch also belongs in this group. Now found in many color mutations, these birds take little care and are easy to breed. Most pet shops carry the common zebra, identifiable by his orange cheeks and vivid colors. The female birds lack the orange cheeks, making it easy to pick a pair, something that is difficult in other finches.

There are many other varieties of Australian finches available. If you're interested in them, I urge you to talk to some finch breeders to get a feel for the available species and their care.

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