. Golden song sparrow
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- Scientific Name: Auripasser luteus or Passer luteus
- Common Name/s:
GOLDEN SONG SPARROW, SUDAN GOLDEN SONG SPARROW, YELLOW
SPARROW, GOLDEN SPARROW.
- Sub Species in country / area of origin:
None
- Origin / Distribution: Thin band
across top of Africa
- Habitat In Wild: Dry and hot.
Frequent farmlands and urban areas.
- Status In Wild:
Locally common, but are nomadic.
- Status In (Australian) Captivity:
Secure
- Age To Sexual Maturity: About
12 months.
- Adult plumage: attained at about
?
months
- Best breeding years (estimate):
3rd - 9th.
- Lifespan (estimate): approx
10 or more
years.
- Sexing:
Monomorphic
/ Dimorphic
- Mutations: None
- Availability: Bird dealers (more
cock birds available than hens)
- Temperament: Aviary breeder, not
suitable for cages. Temperament and degree of aggression
levels can vary between strains of birds. Some breeders of
Golden Song Sparrows have reported their Golden Song Sparrows have
killed other finches when housed in a mixed species collection.
- Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: -
Normal colour (Approx.) $150
- Description Of Adults:
- Length: Approx 125 mm (or approx. 5 inches)
- Colour ("normal" colour): Refer
photo/s above if available.
- Weight: Approx. 21 - 23 gms (or approx. 3/4 oz)
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.
Prefer a large well planted aviary.
They are active birds and should not be housed in a cage.
Temperament of these birds seems to vary
between individual birds. Only place them in a mixed species
collection if it appears safe to do so. Housing them with larger
finches is one way to minimize any aggression to other birds.
Although they can be kept with other finches, only one pair of Golden
Song Sparrows should be housed per aviary. Can be bred as a
colony in a large aviary.
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.
The Golden Song Sparrows require a good quality finch mix, seeding grasses, some fruits (e.g. apple) and
some green leafy vegetables. Live food is essential especially at breeding season.
Mealworms, small crickets and small locusts are ideal. Sprouted or
soaked seed if available.
Basic seed mix should include Canary
seed, White French Millet, Japanese Millet, and Yellow and Red Panicum.
Nesting:
A basic overview only.
- Roosting nest:
Yes / No
- Nesting months: Spring
to autumn.
- Nesting receptacles:
Will build a nest in a shrub or dry brush. Equally it will
build a nest in artificial nests such as half open nest boxes.
- Nest: Nest is a large
domed structure with a side entrance. Nest is made from a
variety of materials including sticks and twigs, coconut fibre,
wool, even shredded tissue paper. Nest is lined
with fine grasses, feathers and soft materials. If you do not
supply them with adequate quantities of nest materials, they may
take them from another bird's nest structure.
- Who incubates the eggs:
Hen / cock / both share.
Nest inspection is not tolerated.
Nest is usually built in the higher parts of the aviary.
The Golden Song Sparrows generally reuse the nest
for subsequent clutches. Adequate new nest material must be
available for the birds to refurbish the old nest or build a new nest
for the next clutch.
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 Grey-green. Clutch/s
per year 2 - 3. Eggs per nest 2 - 4. Incubation
approx. 14 days. Fledge approx. 21 days. Independent approx. another
? weeks.
Fertility of the Golden Song Sparrow is
generally lower than for most other
finches. Survival rates for the young are less than for most other
species of finches.
In an aviary it is generally safe to leave the young in the same
aviary after they become independent.
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
- Australian Birdkeeper
- ABK Vol 15 Issue 2. Apr-May 2002 Page 73-75.
- ABK Vol 49 No. 12 Dec 1995 Page 279-282 (Inc photo)
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