all the blue Canaries? Nowadays some gray Canaries are being referred to as Purity of Species is "blue" but most celtainly they are not hybrids. One could, perhaps, argue either for or against hybridizing with Canaries. Conservation After all, most hybrids are sterile. How could this possibly affect the by John Quatm, Sydney, Australia species? It can affect them. The prob­ lem begins when back crossing or hybridizing with various finch species Canaries and related have but most celtainly not for their song. occurs. In such cases a that was always held a fascination for me not Most of the hybrids produced turn genetically only one-quaIter hybrid only because oftheir color and appear­ out to be infertile and are referred to as could look like a pure species and be ance but because each species has its "mules". Only the Red Siskins (being bred with other pure birds. Some of own uniquely pretty song. The breed­ closely related to the CanalY) occa­ the species are velY closely related and er can learn to distinguish the species sionally produce feltile cock birds. The look vely much alike. This means that just by hearing an individual bird sing. hens from this cross are always infer­ some of the hybrids are capable of Species include Siskins, Grosbeaks, tile. Even hybrids from the Yellow­ reproduction. We are all familiar with Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Buntings, hooded or European Siskin crossed the Estrildidae including Red­ Chaffinches, Saffrons and Sparrows. with the Canaly are sterile. cheeked Cordon Bleu, Blue-capped All of these species build a cup­ As the Red Siskins have been used Cordon Bleu, Blue-breasted Cordon shaped nest except for the Saffron to get a red factor CanalY, so has the Bleu or Ruddies and Strawberry finches and Sparrows which nest in Indigo Bunting been used by some finches and celtainly the Canary relat­ cavities. breeders in an attempt to get blue ed large Green Singing finch and the Canary hybrids have been repolted Canaries. But this has not worked as small Green Singing finch to name just from each one of these species at one buntings are a more distantly related a few of the species. time or another (see Canaries and species although occasional repolts TIle Australian federation of Aviculture Related Birds by Horst Bielfeld). None appear of such hybrids being pro­ is strongly opposed to crossbreeding ofthe hybrids are prettier than anyone duced. Indeed, one repolt stated that and so are most breeders and dealers. of the pure species and neither is their the hybrids were able to reproduce I know for a fact that most breeders in song better than the song' of the among themselves and even with Sydney would not buy or offer hybrids domesticated Canaries or wild Linnets. Canaries. for sale. Red Siskins have been used repeatedly Now I, myself, have never heard of Often breeders of Red Siskins form in producing the red factor Canaries blue Canaries. Nor has anyone that I groups of three or four members and know. If such a hybrid has ever exchange young Siskins among them­ occurred, it most celtainly would not selves. In this way they retain the birds' be fertile. 1fT am wrong then where are purity.

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afa WATCHBIRD 31 e rich red color, about 4 in. in length, have horn colored with a hlack c ~ tip, legs should be flesh colored, and -,o undertail coverts should be red. The .t- oo wing bar should he red (not white or ao yellow) and almost glowing like a red ~ c.. fluorescent light. The female should never exhihit yellowish feathers. The beak and legs should be the same as the male's. Of course, there is no hlack hood on the female. Overall, the female should have a gray coloring with a red patch on the hreast which gradually increas­ es and intensifies with age. Canary related species are extreme­ ly territorial therefore I helieve that for the best hreeding results a small aviary should he given to each pair. From my experience I know that Red Siskins Gmen spmy millet heads are taken eagerly when birds are caring for their young. often fail to breed hecause of the pres­ ence of another hird in the aviary. In this situation they have to compete for a nesting Site, nesting material, food, and also defend their territory. That is a bit too much to ask of a small bird. However, if one pair is kept in each aviary they often exhibit extremely aggressive behavior towards the occu­ pants of the adjoining aviary. This is a healthy sign indicating that they feel at home and are ready for hreeding. One should never wait for the Siskins to start and finish hUilding the nest. The nest should always be initiat­ ed by the aviculturist as soon as the female is seen hopping from perch to perch carrying nesting material in its beak. The food consists of dry seed mix with sunflower and niger seed avail­ Green japanese seedheads are always grown in my garden. able at all times. One leaf of lettuce and a generous supply of seeding Some breeders, on the other hand, Committee. It is the responsibility of grasses is offered daily. believe that any reddish bird with a committee members to keep in touch For nesting material I provide hess­ black head offered for sale is a true with those breeders who have rare ian and coconut fibers and the com­ Black-hooded Red Siskin and are very species whether it's one bird or many mercially available product "Fine happy to keep and breed these birds. and also to keep a watch on the status Fibers Nesting Material". This product As we all know, not all of these birds of all species in captivity. This commit­ excludes undesirable synthetic fiher are pure Red Siskins. They can be tee is an asset to Australian aviculture. which if wrapped around a bird's leg called Red Siskins only if they are 100% I have been breeding Black-hooded could cut off circulation and lead to the pure. Hybrids that are 99% pure :-nd Red Siskins for more than a decade now loss of a limb. can't be visually distinguished from a and am concemed about the purity of All the above is based on personal pure Siskin occasionally produce an some specimens found in some breed­ observation and experience and could offspring that can be clearly identified ers' collections. Unfoltunately, vety little differ a little from the views and expe­ as a hybrid. has been written about this species and riences of other breeders. This method Perhaps we cannot stop some indi­ through sheer ignorance some breeders works for me and I'm sticking to it. viduals from producing hybrids but we may be breeding or hack-crossing from I wish all of you good luck with the purists can certainly form groups to hybrids. Black-hooded Red Siskin. And remem­ cooperate together to keep our few I am very fussy about the birds I ber, crosshreeding within the species is captive bred birds pure. choose for breeding. I look for the fol­ not acceptable and is not conducive to Here in Australia we have a newly lOWing when selecting Red Siskin pairs the avicultural preservation of the indi­ formed Rare Species Management for breeding; the male should be a vidual species. + 32 ovember/December 1995 e «i o:J c r:. o ""') >.. .0 (/) o (5 r:. Q..

Final results from back-crossing hybrid to Males love to fight through the wire. 1bey are only protecting their territory. Both hens normal. Note size and color ofbeak. are on eggs.

By the color on the breast, eight month old, one year old and the two year oldfemales can be identified. Notice the hybrid on the top left (dark feet, dark beak and whitish This Red Siskin is probably the victim of inbreeding. Why? undertail coverts). Birds like this should never be usedfor breeding.

This is a Yellow-hooded x Black-hooded Siskin hybrid. The white undertail coverts are quite distinct. Two 16 day old Yellow-hooded Siskins. afa WATCHBIRD 33