The wild Spice Finch is found in grassy/weedy areas in Ceylon, India, Indochina, Southern China, Formosa, Luzon, Palawan, Malaysia, Java, Bali, Celebes, Sumatra...
Spice Finches live in small groups sometimes with other Lonchura species such as the Lonchura striata, or Society Finch (the white bird pictured above).
Spice finches eat grass seeds off the ground and maturing rice kernels directly off the plants. In captivity, Spice Finches eat millet, assorted finch seed mixes, greens, meal worms, eggfood. (Eggfood is available commercially usually in biscuit form. Many bird keepers make their own eggfood: hard boiled chicken egg yolk and just about any cooked grain, mash it with a fork and serve.)
Spice Finch pairs nest apartment style in bushes. Nest material consists of grass, straw and bamboo leaves. Clutch size: 4-8.
When keeping Spice Finches, you will notice they are active. All Finches fly around in their cages, of course, but some species tend to zip about. Spice Finches, like other finches that come from reedy vegetation environments, tend to be zippers.
Do they make good pets, Lynn?
ReplyDeleteYes. They are hardy- easy keepers. Spice Finches are pretty, they sing, and are fun to watch. In addition to flying around, they swing and climb and play. If you tie some string or a strip of cloth from the ceiling of the cage, they fiddle with it...I find them delightful!
DeleteFascinating birds!
ReplyDelete