Mystery Finch Co. Durham (1 Viewer)

[stew the smew]

Hello,

This finch flew into a greenhouse in County Durham.

It's probable that it was an escapee from an avery but does anybody have any idea what species it is and what the person should do with the little fella?

Cheers

Stew

 

[djprest]

some type of grosbeak. let it go (it may find his cage mate currently living in a garden in essex!)

 

[MSA]

Magpie Mannikin I believe (an African species).

 

[stew the smew]

some type of grosbeak. let it go (it may find his cage mate currently living in a garden in essex!)

wish i knew which garden

thanks msa

 

[cuckooroller]

I'm thinking an African Lonchura - maybe bicolor or cucullata, too bad we can't see the flanks.

 

[stew the smew]

I'm thinking an African Lonchura - maybe bicolor or cucullata, too bad we can't see the flanks.

i'll try and get some clearer pictures over the weekend.

any suggestions as to what to do with it?

 

[MSA]

I'm thinking an African Lonchura - maybe bicolor or cucullata, too bad we can't see the flanks.

Doesn't extent of white on sides of breast rule out bicolor? I'd tend towards cucullata this morning, hadn't noticed bars on side of bird last night (ie Bronze-winged Mannikin rather than Magpie Mannikin).

 

[Vipers]

Its a Bengalese Finch.

The Bengalese Finch is a pure domesticated finch and does not occur in the wild.

 

[scott m]

Its called a Bengalese Finch, Its a man made hybrid between two species of munia. Common in many foreign finch collections as it is often used in much the same way as a broody hen ie eggs of other species are put under them and used to rear the young.

 

[cuckooroller]

Thanks Vipers and Scott,
Honestly, I have never heard of that Finch, but then I am not much into aviary breeding.