Diamond Firetail, Diamond Sparrow

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The photo and below information are courtesy of Mandy & Paul - Breeder of Canaries & Other Exotic Birds - Singing Wings Aviary - www.singing-wings-aviary.com (A great source for these beautiful little finches - Click here for cost / availability of the various mutations of gouldian finches)

Description:

In the normal form this species has a gray head with a brown-gray back and wings. The rump is a bright firey red which is how it came to be called the Firetail. The sides of the head are gray with a prominant black eye band that starts at the beak and stops just at the eye edge. A wide black band marks the breast and the flanks are black with white diamond-shaped spots. The under belly and chin are white, the beak bright red, legs gray and eyes are dark. Slight difference amoung sexes can be seen in adult birds but can not always prove 100% accurate. Males normally have a deeper red beak and eyering with the black breast bar being somewhat wider.

Size:

This species normally ranges about 5 in (13 cm).

Origin:

The Diamond Firetail originated from the central west to southeastern regions of Australia. Numbers are greatly declining in its native land.

Mutations/Sub-species:

There are a few rare mutations available in Diamond Firetails such as Fawn and Silver in the original red rump form and a recessive yellow (orange) rump form.

Diet:

A good Firetail diet is a mixture of mixed millets and canary grass seeds available in a good finch mix. Fresh water, cuttlebone and grit should also be supplied at all times. Lettuce, Spinach, Chickweed, spray millet, Eggfood, Brocolli tops and Carrot tops can also be offered on a regular basis. These guys love the eggfood and sprouted seed. Sprouted or germinated seeds are usually more easily accepted by "seed addicts" than fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Sprouted seeds are healthier as the sprouting changes and enhances the nutritional quality and value of seeds and grains. Sprouted seeds are lower in fat, as the process of sprouting utilizes the fat in the seed to start the growing process - thus reducing the fat stored in the seeds.
• Sprouted seeds will help balance your bird’s diet by adding a nutritious supply of high in vegetable proteins, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and chlorophyll.
• Soaked and germinated "oil" seeds, like niger and rape seeds, are rich in protein and carbohydrates; while "starch" seeds, such as canary and millets, are rich in carbohydrates, but lower in protein.
• It is in invaluable food at all times; however, it is especially important for breeding or molting birds. Sprouted seeds also serve as a great rearing and weaning food as the softened shell is easier to break by chicks and gets them used to the texture of seeds.

Compatibility:

This species is normally a good prospect for a mixed aviary. The get along with each other and other finches of similar size in a good size flight or aviary although they will bicker and seem a bit pushy with smaller waxbills or males of the same species during the breeding season.

Housing:

These birds do best in a large planted aviary. If you are wanting them to breed you can seperate them by pairs into large flights or breeding cages. We prefer to house them in single pair planted flight cages. Some heat will be required durring winter months so these birds are best suited for large indoor aviaries during winter. In the summer time they will thrive and come into best condition in outdoor aviaries provided you provide shelter to keep them from damp conditions.

Song:

The Firetail song is more like a raspy mating call. He will hold a long stem of grass in his beak and hop up and down on the perch. The dance is much like that of a Java Finch but he will hold his head back and puff the feathers out while calling to her.

Breeding:

Firetails can be cage or aviary bred. Better breeding results seem to come when pairs are housed seperatly since males become aggressive towards each other during breeding season. We house each pair in a 36 x 20 x 20 flight with bamboo coverage for privacy. Bird house gourds and finch nest boxes are offered for the nest. They seem to prefer the nestboxes in which they can lay deep in and hide. Firetails will use a variety of nesting material such as coco fiber, shredded paper, dried grasses and feathers. They must build the nest themselves and will not tolerate you building it for them. We normally start the nest for them by lining it and the male takes over from there. After breeding takes place the hen normaly lays 4-6 eggs which she mainly incubates alone for 14 days. Babies are born pink skinned and just about naked. After hatching it will be about 21 days before the young leave the nest. At about 42 days old the young Firetails are weaned and independent.

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