Indo~Pacific Estrildid Finches: Their Status in American Aviculture
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Estrildid Finches grams as their wild populations may collapse in Aviculture... The Manila Parrotfinch, E viridifa cies, also known as the Green-faced Parrotfinch has been briefly represent ed in American aviculture in the past, Indo~ Pacific mainly by a few individual birds which were incidentally imported. There is Estrildid Finches: no record of an American breeding of this species. There is no evidence that the Pink Their Status in American Aviculture billed Parrotfinch, E. kleinschmidti, was ever in the u.s. Unfortunately, a by Stash and Carol Anne Buckley, Magnolia, NJ recent scientific expedition intended on obtaining several individual birds for serious study fell through at the last Introduction England. These will be the first known moment. he family of estrildid finches is Papuans in his country. Another friend far-reaching and quite varied in from the States recently made a trip to Mannikins T these tropical climates. In avi Vietnam and New Guinea in an effort The family of mannikins is well rep culture some are very common, some to collect this species. He did indeed resented in the u.s. Many species have are very rare and some have yet to succeed and his six pair are the only been imported by the thousands, such reach our shores. In fact, the most known Papuan Parrotfinches within as the White-hooded, Lonchura maja, popular group of estrildid finches in the us. and the Black-hooded or Tri-colored, captivity are the Australian finches. The gem of the parrotfinches, the L. malacca, Nuns. These are consid However, since these finches are well Royal Parrotfinch, E. cyaneovirens, has ered among the "bread and butter" documented and generally known in generally been suspected and rumored finches for the importers. Very sturdy aviculture, we feel no need to cover to have occurred in American avicul and relatively free from the problems them in this paper. ture. However, we feel these stories of stress that accompany importation, are produced by aviculturists exercis these finches have become the staples Parrotf"mches ing wishful thinking. We can only con of many pet shops. Species such as the One of the most popular families of firm the existence of one pair in avi Java Rice Bird, L. oryzivora, and the the Indo-Pacific finches are the par culture, worldwide, and it is in Spice Finch, L. punctulata, will be rotfinches (genus Erythrnra). Although Germany. readily recognized by finch breeders in these birds have been coveted for Two members of the genus the u.s. years, only two species have been Erythrnra are still being imported into However, among the common established in the us: the Blue-faced, the U.S., although somewhat irregular mannikins, only the Java Rice Bird has Erythrnra trichroa, and the Red-head ly, and their prices are rising sharply. been established. There are several ed, E. psiUacea, Parrotfinches. In These are Bamboo, E. hyperythra, and mutations occurring within this European aviculture and rarely import the Pin-tailed Nonpareil, E. prasina, species, including the fawn, the white, ed into the us are the Mindanao, E. Parrotfinches. It is our belief that nei the pied and the cinnamon. This finch coloria, and the Peale's, E. pealii, ther of these parrotfinches will be is so hardy, it is illegal in many states Parrotfinches. established, due to the difficulty of within the u.s. for it is considered a Recently allowed to be exported propagation. crop threat. The Java Rice Bird, also from Indonesia, we have the addition The Bamboo Parrot-finch is relative known as the Java Sparrow, normally of the Blue-breasted, or Forbes, E. tri ly not-threatened and is doing well in occurs in shades of gray. Interestingly, color, Parrotfinch. Although gaining a the wild. However, the prospects for it has a brown counterpart, the Timor firm foothold in aviculture in Europe, the Pin-tailed Nonpareil look dismal. Sparrow, L. Juscata, which is less fre this finch is precarious in American In an enlightening conversation with quently imported. However, there are aviculture. With the influx of so many Robin Restall, we were informed that serious attempts being made to estab hybridized birds, it is doubtful whether populations are being quickly deplet lish this finch by dedicated mannikin a pure-blood population will be estab ed in the wild and in many places enthusiasts in the U.S. lished in the u.s. have reached the point from which From the Indo-Pacific area we also The newest addition to aviculture is they can no longer recover. Being find the Striated Mannikin, L. striata, the Papuan Parrotfinch, E. papuana, members of the Taxon Advisory the forerunner of our well known from New Guinea. Our good friend, Group for Estrildid Finches, we have Bengalese or Society Finch. If it were Mike Fidler, recently visited a well advised Josef Lindholm, III that zoos not for the work done on this finch by known aviculturist in Germany in should seriously consider this species the Chinese many years ago, we hopes of bringing a few pairs back to for inclusion in their breeding pro- would not have the excellent fostering 30 January/February 1997 which we take for granted today. Amandava amandava. There are three subspecies of this estrildid and, New Guinea Mannikins unfortunately, the largest and most Relatively unknown in the U.S., but vivid subspecies, A. a. amandava, is demanding high prices elsewhere, par subject to an export ban as it occurs in ticularly in Germany, is the family of India. Aviculturists are seriously trying New Guinea mannikins. We personal to establish the two other subspecies We ly believe these are the most beautiful that remain, A. a. punicea, and A. a. and desirable of the Lonchuras. Some jlavidiventris. However, hybridization Buy species have occasionally been import between them is now a distinct threat. Birds ed here, such as the Black, Lonchura The Green Avadavat or Green stygia, the Spectabiled or New Britain, Strawberry Finch, A. formosa, is still • L. spectabilis and the White-spotted, L. being imported. This is curious as it We leucosticta, Mannikins. Sadly, they have also occurs in India and is thus subject received a dismal response from to export bans. Our friend, Josef Sell American breeders. Difficult to sell for Lindholm, of the Fort Worth Zoo, the Birds ~ even $100 per pair in the U.S., prices orizes that this bird may be exported of $500 per pair (equivalent) in from several little known provinces of Complete Bird Supplies Germany are not uncommon and China, particularly Hunan. We believe, 8990 Cerritos Ave. these finches are rapidly sold and in fact, he may be correct, particularly Anaheim, CA 92804 reproduced. when one takes into account the scat (714) 527-3387 Clearly, Americans favor the more tered and wide spread range of its (closed for vacation, first 2 weeks ofJuly) brightly colored finches. For exam close relative, the Red Strawberry 12200 Magnolia Ave. ple, a beautiful subspecies of the Finch. Riverside, CA 92503 Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, the Silverhill Sharpii, L. castaneothorax sharpii, (909) 278-0878 The well known Silverbill, (closed for vacation, first 2 weeks of August) occurs in New Guinea. The crown of Lonchura malabarica, from India this finch is almost white, as opposed OPEN 9 TO 5 DAILY appears to have a good chance to Closed Sun., Mon. & holidays to the gray of the Australian variety, L. become established in the US. Its ease c. castaneothorax. This bird is much in reproducing has made it popular as more distinctive and highly prized than a substitute for Societies in fostering. its Australian counterpart. Some of This finch is perhaps the furthest along these New Guinea Chestnut-breasted the road to establishment of the finch Mannikins have reached the U.S. but, es we have discussed here. unfortunately, there was no serious attempt to breed them. In Robin Conclusion Restall's upcoming book on man Taken as a whole, the estrildid nikins, he describes many unknown finches of the Indo-Pacific, Austral subspecies as well as a few previously Asian area compass a most diverse unknown species, one ofwhich is cur group of avicultural subjects: in physi Greenw· rently in the collection of Dr. Luis cal appearance, availability, husbandry Baptista for study. Obviously, there is techniques and establishment outlook. Buffo much more to be discovered about Many are currently still available Hyaci this fascinating family of finches. through import and are in desperate need of serious avicultural efforts to Mili Crimson Finch establish them before it becomes too A very popular New Guinea finch late. which is not a mannikin is the White For some, establishment in captivity ts bellied Crimson Finch, Neochmia may be their only hope to survive the phaeton evangelinae. Although total extinction which may await them ts imported in large numbers, and sub in their native habitats. As Mike Fidler • 81 OSED BANDED stantially less aggressive than its once stated, many of the island species and VETERINARIAN CHECKED • UNRELATED PAIRS AVAILABLE Australian counterpart, chances for its exist only at the mercy of the whim of establishment in American aviculture the weather (and sadly, often man). To .Jpa~ne Aora~n S appear dim. allow such diversity oflife to pass out of I~INTRE.E M\>AW existence merely because we as avicul .... BREEDINGAND RESE.p,;fCH Strawberry Finch turists could not be bothered would be P.O. Box 1271. Fort Bragg. CA 95437 a tragic loss and totally inexcusable. ,. Another very popular finch from 707-964-4380 this area is the Strawberry Finch, foI'Om the AJofl Armual Crmference J~vceeding.\~ ]990 afa WATCHBIRD 31.