. Lavender waxbill
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- Scientific Name: Estrilda caerulescens
- Common Name/s:
LAVENDER WAXBILL, LAVENDER FINCH, RED TAILED WAXBILL,
GREY WAXBILL.
- Sub Species in country / area of origin:
Yes
- Origin / Distribution: Tropical
Central and Western Africa
- Habitat In Wild: Semi arid
areas. Inhabits farmland and urban areas.
- Status In Wild: ?
- Status In (Australian) Captivity:
Rare
- Age To Sexual Maturity: About
12 months
- Adult plumage:
attained at about 2 - 3
months
- Best breeding years (estimate):
2nd - 5th year
- Lifespan (estimate): About 7 - 8 years
- Sexing: Monomorphic
/ Dimorphic
- Mutations: None
- Availability: Rare. Specialist
breeders only.
- Temperament: One pair per
aviary.
- Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: -
Normal colour (Approx.) $2500
- Description Of Adults:
- Length: Approx. 100 - 120 mm (or approx. 4 - 4.5 inches)
- Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer
photo/s above if available.
- Weight: Approx. 9 - 10 gms (or approx. 1/3 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.
May be kept with other finches but with their rarity in Australian
aviaries it would be best to give each pair an aviary of their own.
If lucky enough to have multiple pairs it is best not to house them in
side by side aviaries so as to avoid possible through the wire
aggression from the other pair.
They are a tropical bird and do not like cold temperatures.
They do well in a well planted aviary. Dense shrubs are ideal.
Can be bred indoors in a suitably large cage.
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.
Good quality finch mix and seeding
grasses. Live food is
essential especially at breeding season. Small mealworms are commonly
used. 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:
- Nesting receptacles:
They will build a domed nest in shrubs or dry brush such as tea tree,
but may use artificial nests such as half open nest boxes. In
artificial nests the birds will make the nest dark by partially
enclosing the nest front leaving an entrance of about 40 mm.
- Nest: Dome shaped made
from grasses and has an entrance tunnel.
- Who incubates the eggs:
Hen / cock / both share.
The nest is usually built high in the
aviary. Tall shrubs should be trimmed so the birds do not nest too
close to a potentially hot roof. Parent birds generally reuse the
nest for subsequent clutches. Adequate new nest material must be
available for the birds to refurbish the old 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 White. Clutch/s
per year 2 - 3. Eggs per nest 4 - 5. Incubation
approx. 12 - 14 days. Fledge approx. 2 - 3 weeks.
Independent approx. another 2 - 3 weeks.
The young may return to the nest for a
short time after fledging.
Parents are intolerant of nest
inspections. Young should be removed from the parent
birds as soon as they are fully independent so as to avoid possible
aggression from a parent.
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 21 No. 12 Dec 1967 Page160-168 (Inc colour plate).
- A/A Vol 15 No. 9 Sept 1961 Page 122.
- The Bulletin No 4, Nov 1942 Page 1
(The breeding of finches - conclusion).
- Australian Birdkeeper
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