Canary Varieties – The Fife Fancy
The canary is one of the most recognisable pet birds alongside the budgerigar and is the focus of many sayings and stories. But what most people don’t realise is that there are many varieties of canary that have descended from the original wild type – so many that there are even three categories to classifying […]
Lesser or Mealy Redpoll – What’s Yours?
Of the British birds that are popular in captivity, one family that seems to cause the most confusion is the Redpoll. There are only three species in the family and one is very different but the other two, the Lesser and the Mealy Redpoll are often the cause of confusion. So how do you tell […]
The Red Headed Finch
There’s something eye catching about birds that have red plumage and also often a bit of a fiery temperament to go with that colouration. The Red Headed Finch is a great example of the distinctive looking bird but is generally a little more sociable than the closely related Cut throat finch. In the wild Also […]
Cuban Grassquit – Species Profile
When is a finch not a finch? When it is the Cuban Finch, properly known as the Cuban Grassquit. This attractive little bird has a huge character and is an active bird that is pleasant to keep with a few conditions to remember. But most importantly, it isn’t actually a finch but was formerly part […]
The Plum Headed Finch (A.K.A the Cherry Finch)
Whether you know it as the Plum Headed finch or the Cherry Finch, this delightful species is one that may not have the flashy looks of others but has plenty of character. They make an excellent aviary bird and are relatively easy to keep. In the wild The Plum Headed finch (Neochmia modesta) is found […]
The Zebra Dove – Aviary Alternative to the Diamond Dove?
For many bird keepers, the journey into keeping doves and pigeons start with the diamond dove. But once you have experience with them, there can be the urge to try something different. One species that is commonly kept in some parts of the world is the zebra dove – but is it an aviary alternative […]