Masked Finch

(Poephila Personata)
                                                                          











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Contents of this Page ( Push at the subject)
About Masked Finch
How to take care
Breeding

                                                              



























Original Country:
                                                                                                                            
The Masked Finch is a common resident of Grasslands with at least a few Shrubs and Grassy tropical Woodlands across Northern Australia from The Kimberly across the Top End, The Gulf Country and The Southern part of Cape York Peninsula. as far east as Chilagoe, but always near Water. The Birds are mostly on the Ground where they collect halfriped Grass Seed. In the Evenings and early Mornings, large numbers  -  Sometimes thousands  -  cab gather around Waterholes to drink, bathe and preen, flicking their tails sideways and chattering incessantly. They only fly up in the Trees in order to rest.







                      
Masked Finch belongs to the real Grassfinch , who is represented with 6 types in Australia.                            

                      
1) Double-barred Finch
2) Zebra Finch
3) Timor Zebra Finch
4) sharp-tailed Mannikin
5) Black-throated Grassfinch
6) Masked Finch		   
(Poephila bichenovii)
(Poephila guttata castanotis)
(Poephila guttata guttata)
(Poephila acuticauda acuticauda)
(Poephila cincta cincta)
(Poephila personata)		                          


Male


Forehead, small Face-mask and Throat Black. Overside, Neck, Back and Wings Redbrown. Vent and Over coverts White. Black Tail and Under Coverts White. On the sides of the Body in the Back wedgeshaped Black spots. Bill Yellow waxy-looking. Eyes Darkbrown and Legs Coral-red.




Female


Has less Face-mask, but the Sexes are quit similar.                                                                                                                                   

                                                              
Size: Length circa 12 cm
                                                    





























How to take care:


It is a shy Bird, who is most suitable for Avairy in small flocks of 2 to 3 couples. It is  peacefully against other Birds, and it needs temperatures over 20º , since it easily catch a cold.
The Food should consists of Canary-seed and Grass-seed. It also needs a lot of Animalfood, which can beMeal Worms and Mosquito Caterpillar. Greeneries as for  example Lettuce, Dandelions and Bird-grass should not be a shortage in daily feeding.





Finch Mix







Mosquito Cocoons

  Meal worms
Dandelion
Lettuce

  ChickWeed
























Breeding:


The Breeding can be a problem, since Masked Finch is a shy Bird. It should have the possibility to choose its Partner and control of the Nest must be avoided!!
The Nest is placed in a big Basketnest or in a halfopen Nest Boxe, which is placed in the top of the Avairy. Nesting material is Grassstraws , Coconut Fibres and Charcoal. Charcoal  has the purpose to camouflage Eggs ( become Black) and the young Birds.
Since Masked Finch does not use the same Nest again, there had to be more Nests placed, if you want more litters. The Bird is very willingly to breed.
The Female lays 4 to 6 Eggs and incubation takes about 14 days. The young Birds stay in the Nest for about the next three weeks.The young Bird are greybraun ,the Black drawings are very weak. They are dull copies of their parents with Dark-grey Bills.
After 6 weeks the young Birds has got its adultcolour , but they should not be taken away from the Parents before the first shedding, since they otherweise will stop eating.
It is necessary to feed with Eggsfood in the breedingtime.


Mouth markings






7 days



10 days 		      
               Fledgling