Diamond Firetail Finch by Matthew M. Vriends, Ph.D. The Netherlands The Diamond Fire-tailed Finch COlnes franz lnany parts ofAustralia. It is conunonly known to U.s. aviculturists as the Diamond Sparrow. It is not, houJever related to sparrow-like birds. Scientific names: guish from the male; with enough com­ Emblema guttata Stagonopleura qut-· Description of Wild Bird parative material the hen s head and tata, and Zonaegnithus guttatus. The body seems generally slighter in struc­ fir t tated name i the rna t recent. Cock: The head and neck are gray­ ture. The lores ar'e brown instead of ish-blue; back and wings olive-brown; black; this is a good distinguishing Other names: rump and upper tail coverts crimson; mark in older birds. The eye-ring is gen­ Diamond Firefinch Diamond Finch· throat white; brea t with a wide, black erally lighter in color, as is the beak (pink­ ish-red). al 0 frequently Diamond Sparrow (a band that runs along the flanks and is name that is not recommended as this bordered by the wings; underside Immature: Generally less colorful, bird is no close relation to sparrow-like whitish; flanks, black with white pots with greenish-brown wings and back; birds), and Spotted-sided Finch. "diamond "; the econd part ofthe sci­ the rump and upper tail coverts are entific name guttata means "spotted carmine-red; the tail feathers are not and zona, in the already from 1796 dated black, but brownish-black· unlike the Subspecies: name Zonaeginthus, is the Latin word conspicuous ash-blue head ofthe adults, one. According to J.A. Keast (1958), for 'band": the Greek aigintha is a in juvenile it has a greeni h wash, a there are no geographical races; the "kind of bird." Beak maroon; the lares has the sides of the head. The flanks species philordi, mentioned by G.M. are black. The eyes are bordered with are greenish-brown with large gray­ Matthews in his book, ({The Birds of a con picuous red eye-ring, the same white bars and spots; the underside Australia (London 1910-27) mu t color as the iris. The legs and feet are of hens is light gray, in young cocks, therefore be regarded as a ynonym of grayish-brown. however, much lighter, almost white. The guttata. Hen: Is usually difficult to distin- beak of young hens at about three 8 November/December 1995 months ofage is generally light red; that hatched and reared. It seems that most Food: Diamond Finches are mainly of young cocks is dark red with a vio­ pairs build a new nest in the same seedeaters. Like sparrows, the finches let tinge. The rump and upper tail shrub in which they nested the previ­ hop on the ground in search of seeds, coverts of young hens are dull red; ous year. I observed some pairs even but they also jump up to the heads of that of young cocks are lighter red repairing or rebuilding their old origi­ seeding grasses with some success. with a pale sheen. These color differ­ nal nests and reusing them. It is there­ During the breeding season, the birds ences can sometimes be seen in older fore understandable that in some areas, supplement their menu with insects birds, especially when not in breeding where the habitat is in their favor, they which they also find on the ground or condition. A cock bird ready for mating, remain all year round.]uveniles usually "pluck" from the foliage ofplants. In cap­ however, is easy to distinguish by his also stay in the area in which they tivity, Diamond Finches will be content frequent singing, and his vivid-red eye­ were reared, breeding themselves when with a commercial seed mixture as the rings. Should the bird moreover take a the time is ripe. In spite ofthis, continual main part ofthe diet, but they show pref­ grass stem in the beak, stand high on urbanization is gradually forcing pop­ erence for white and]apanese millets, the legs, and press the beak down ulations of the birds further inland. I especially outside the breeding sea­ against the breast, it is definitely a observed a typical example of this son. During the breeding season sprout­ male. During this performance he will when, on Kangaroo Island in 1983, ed seeds and seeding grass heads are also let his song be heard. The cock Diamond Finches were forced more taken avidly; millet sprays and bunch­ sometimes sings outside the breeding than 1,100 yards (about 1 km) further es ofseeding weeds can also be given season, but much less frequently. Also, inland in a single year. in the aviary. It is recommended that such outside the breeding season, the hen Diamond Finches are very strong seed heads are offered throughout the takes no notice ofthe male's singing; she on the wing; they fly powerfully with year; ifthey are offered only in the breed­ just keeps to herself. flOWing, light undulations - this is a ing season it is possible that the birds Apart from the male song, sexes of characteristic of birds that live in open will eat too much of them and become young birds are difficult to determine terrain and must be quick on the wing too fat. If they are given all year round outwardly. Even the white spots on to escape from predators. This typical it will discourage the birds from eating the flanks - which are sometimes larg­ kind of flight can be seen with many these seeds exclUSively and they will also er in hens - are no sure indication. The Australian Finches, but especially in seek out other food. In this connection only sure way, as we have said, is the all firetail species. However, it has to be it should be noted that hemp is also one song of the male. said that the flight of the Diamond of their favorite seeds. But this should Size: 4.5 inches (11.5 cm), sometimes Finch is the most beautiful of all. be given only sparingly, even when the a little smaller, sometimes to 4.75 inch­ es (12 cm); tail 1.7 in (4.3 cm); wings 2.5-2.75 inches (6-7 cm). Distribution: Central and southern Queensland, and via the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales, through Victoria to western South Australia (Eyre Peninsula); also on Kangaroo Island (large island south of Adelaide, South Australia). Field Biology: Diamond finches live in open terrain, including grasslands, mallee thickets, gardens, parks, and open woodland, generally in the imme­ diate neighborhood ofwater. I have seen these birds on Kangaroo Island close to towns, especially in gardens and parks. In Queensland I have also frequently seen them close to human habitations. In Adelaide I observed them especial­ ly in the sparsely wooded hills, where they had plenty ofspace to move about • Loving Pets in. By leg-banding numbers ofbirds over SOlely~olomon Island Eclectus •Great Talkers a two year period, I ascertained that they ~l • Singles and were largely sedentary and almost Call Chauncey (409) 547-2506 Unrelated Pairs never left the area in which they were afa WATCHBIRD 9 birds are in a large aviary with plenty good for the health and influence 1995 COMMITIEES of exercise space. behavior strongly and positively, it also AVIAN RESEARCH In the wild various termites, other cuts out the danger of spoiled, infect­ William Sager, D.V.M. (508) 486-3101 insects and their larvae are taken by the ed water. In spite of this I give my AFA IN BRIEF (monthly newsletter) breeding adults and fed to the nestlings. Diamond Finches (and other birds) a Cheryl Jones (509) 226-0611 fax (509) 326-6725 In the cage or aviary, small mealworms, fresh dish ofwater in which a dose of AVYAWARDS or maggots can be given; these larvae vitamin/mineral supplement is dis­ Dale Thompson (805) 252-4871 should first be killed by immersing solved, twice per day. CAPTIVE BREEDING SURVEY them in boiling water (use a net or a Calls: Before the breeding season Starr Kirkchoff (616) 327-3399 piece ofold nylon pantyhose). Fruit flies actually gets underway, the cock is CITES and white worms (Enchytrae) can also already charming his spouse with a AI McNabney (510) 945-1785 be given, as can commercial egg food Simple song. The song is somewhat harsh CONSERVATION (Red Siskin) (Cede, LIM's Universal Plus etc.). Grit sounding and consists ofa series ofsim­ Kevin Gorman (716) 865-6414 must be available throughout the year, ple notes; I can best describe it as CONSERVATION SMALL GRANTS and a mineral block should also be Benny Gallaway (409) 775-2000 "qweat, qweat, qweat-the-qweat-the­ FAX (409) 775-2002 available. In the wild I have seen the qweat" (ea as in sea); sometimes one can CONVENTION COORDINATOR birds eating pieces of charcoal. In cap­ hear variations. In the wild, as well as Mary Perry (801 )582-6445 tivity I would therefore also recom­ in the aviary, one can hear the contact fax (801 )486-0757 mend that charcoal is made available calls, not only when a group is togeth­ COOPERATIVE BREEDING PGM (grains of charcoal are present in most Sharon Garsee (916) 784-1314 er (usually 20-30 birds including the cur­ commercial grit mixtures). However, rent year's offspring), but also when one DRAWING COORDINATOR Cathy Ford (805) 684-0752 charcoal should be given very sparingly or more birds have strayed too far and cautiously. The necessity of a daily EDUCATION AND MEDIA SERVICES away from the group and are being Bob Smith (517) 764-4170 supply ofcharcoal is questionable as it warned to return.