Cut throat Finch
BirdCare.com.au
PO  Box 126 Mitcham Vic 3132 ( Victoria, Australia )

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. Cut throat finch
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  • Scientific Name:  Amadina fasciata
  • Common Name/s:  CUT THROAT FINCH,  RIBBON FINCH.
  • Sub Species in country / area of origin:  4
  • Origin / Distribution: Drier parts of southern and western Africa.
  • Habitat In Wild:  Prefers a drier environment and has adapted to use farmlands and inhabited areas.
  • Status In Wild:  Secure
  • Status In (Australian) Captivity:  Secure
  • Age To Sexual Maturity:  About 9 months.
  • Best breeding years (estimate):  12 months - 5th year.
  • Lifespan (estimate):  Long lived for a finch, 8 - 10 years is possible.
  • Sexing: Monomorphic / Dimorphic The hen lacks the red band on the throat.
  • Mutations:  No
  • Availability:  Bird dealers
  • Temperament:  Popular bird and easily bred.  More Cut throat finches are available than its close relative the Aberdeen finch.  Can be kept as a single pair in a mixed finch colony but care should be taken to check that the Cut throats are not being aggressive to smaller finches.  Can be successfully bred as a colony provided the sexes are evenly numbered.
  • Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx.) $60
  • Description Of Adults:
  1. Length: Approx.125 mm (or about 5 inches)
  2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo/s above if available.
  3. Weight: Approx. 17 gms (or about 2/3 ozs)
Aviary Notes:

Read notes on "Finches - Non Australian" web page and use in conjunction with details outlined on this page.

Level Of Knowledge Required: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws: Refer to "Government Laws" web page.

Housing Requirements: Click on "Housing birds" web page for general details on the housing of Non Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.

The Cut throat finch likes a planted aviary, but will breed in an unplanted aviary, but they can be bred in a Canary style breeder cage of about 900mm long x 400mm high x 400mm deep (36 x 16 x 16 inches).  Only one breeding pair per cage.

Can be kept as a single pair in a mixed finch colony but care should be taken to check that the Cut throats are not being aggressive to smaller finches.  Can be successfully bred as a colony provided the sexes are evenly numbered.

Diet / Feeding:  Click on "Feeding birds" web page for general details on the nutrition of  Non Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.

Cut throat finch requires a good quality finch mix and seeding grasses.  Live food is essential especially at breeding season.  Mealworms are commonly used.  Small crickets can be used.  Sprouted or soaked seed if available.  Leafy green vegetables can be offered, e.g. silverbeet, cos lettuce & endive.

Basic seed mix should include Canary seed, White French Millet, Japanese Millet, and Yellow and Red Panicum.

Nesting:  A basic overview only.

  • Roosting nest:   No
  • Nesting months:  May breed year round, although spring to autumn is preferable.
  • Nesting receptacles:  Prefers an artificial nest in which to build its nest.  i.e. nest box or wicker/cane nest.  To speed up the nest building process, owners can partially fill the nest receptacle with dry grasses and allow the birds to rearrange the grass material and line the nest with feathers.  Cut throats do not reuse the nest so spare nest boxes must be available for the building of new nests for subsequent clutches.
    Allowing the pairs to build their own nest, unassisted, is the best option.
  • Nest:  Both parents build the nest out of grasses and other materials.  Nest is lined with feathers and soft fine grasses.
  • Who incubates the eggs: Hen / cock / both share.

Tend to use a lot of nesting material.  Adequate new nest material must be available for the parents to build a new nest for the next clutch.

The Cut throat finch is generally tolerant of nest inspections.  Usually safe to leave the young birds in with the parents in an aviary.  Young must be removed when fully independent if bred in a cage.

More details on finch nests and a selection of finch nest photos can be located on the "nests", "finch nests" and "finch nest photos" web pages.  Click on "Up" then "nests" then "finch nests" and "finch nests photos" in the navigation bars.

Breeding: Egg Colour White.  Clutch/s per year  3 - 4.  Eggs per nest  3 - 5.  Incubation approx. 13 days.  Fledge approx 21 days.  Independent approx. another 2 - 3 weeks.

Cut throat finches will breed in an aviary or a large canary style cage.  Young birds (when they become fully independent) must be removed when bred in a cage. Generally safe to remove the young from the parent birds 2 - 3 weeks after they have left the nest.

Popular bird and easily bred.  Usually good parents.

It is best to restrict the adult breeding pair to 3 or 4 clutches per breeding season.

Will hybridize with the Aberdeen finch.

Artificial incubation, hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site.  It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.  Refer "Specific References" as listed below and "General References" listings.

Health Issues:  Refer  "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

  • Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new birds or sick birds are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site.  Refer above option - "Avian Health Issues" web page.
  • Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace.  Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References:  Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

  • Australian Aviculture
  • A/A Vol 59 No. 11 Nov 2005 Page 255-259 (Background notes on some African Waxbills).
  • A/A Vol 29 No. 5 May 1975 Page 65-66
  • A/A Vol 28 No. 4 Apr 1974 Page 60-63
  • A/A Vol 27 No. 2 Feb 1973 Page 22-25
  • A/A Vol 24 No. 2 Feb 1970 Page 22-24.
  • A/A Vol 22 No 6 Jun 1968 Page 96-97.
  • A/A Vol 20 No 6 Jun 1966 Page 85, 87-88 (Inc colour plate).
  • A/A Vol 16 No 6 Jun 1962 Page 78-79 (Inc colour plate).
  • A/A Vol 11 No 12 Dec 1957 Page 173-174.
  • A/A Vol 11 No 1 Jan 1957 Page 1-2.
  • A/A Vol  8 No 5 May 1954 Page 60.
  • A/A Vol  8 No 4 Apr 1954 Page 46-47.
  • Australian Birdkeeper
  • ABK Vol 18 Issue 11. Oct-Nov 2005 Page 676-681 (What's genetically pure and what's not)
  • ABK Vol  1 Issue 5. Oct-Nov 1988 Page 143, 161

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