Finch Families:
Fringillidae, Estrildidae, Ploceidae, Passeridae

---

FRINGILLIDAE: Known as the True Finches

Several subfamilies and 125+ species.

  These are some of the most popular cage and aviary finches. Most have small conical bills, somewhat long tails and peaked heads. Many have distinctive shoulder patches or distinctive wing and tail markings. Males are generally brightly colored while the females are duller. They generally nest in bushes or trees. Most lay 3-5 eggs, with an 12-14 day incubation period. The nesting periods are between 11-17 days. The young are frequently fed small insects.
   Canaries are members of the Fingillidae family and are very popular. They are specially bred for color, song, and unique plumage. To learn more about Canaries and their needs, see Canaries.
   Hawaiian finches endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, are also in this family. They are considered to be endangered and are now very rare.

---

ESTRILDIDAE: Grass and Parrot finches, Waxbills and Munias: Mannikins and Nuns.

133+ species.

  From Africa, Asia and Australasia. This family includes some of the most beautifully colored finches, and most of them breed well in captivity. Some of them, most notably the waxbills have a sweet high pitched song. Most are very hardy and can adjust to varying temperature, though there are some that cannot tolerate too much cold.
   In the wild, most of them live in grass or brush lands and live in small flocks. Most like an enclosed nest made of grass in a globular shape with a side entrance. Often the male will add a "cock's nest" on top of the structure where he will sleep alone. They lay 4-8 eggs, with an 10-21 day incubation period. The nesting period is about 16 days.

---

PLOCEIDAE: Weavers and Whydahs

Several subfamilies and 156+ species.

  These are found mainly in Africa, though some are in Europe and Asia. They are small seed eaters and most are very hardy.
  The weaver males are dull colored except during breeding season, mainly black or steel blue and the females tend to be brownish. It is difficult to pick a pair when the males are "out of color". Whydahs are yellow or chestnut and the males have very long tails during breeding season, from about 8" (20cm) up to 16" (40cm).
  In the wild these birds will often breed in colonies, building enclosed woven nests of grasses, leaves and even mud which are suspended from branches. Most lay 2-4 eggs, with an 11-17 day incubation period. The nesting periods are between 11-20 days.

---

PASSERIDAE:

32+ Species

  Small, social birds that live mainly in open country. They are mostly seed-eating. Their plumage is mostly brown, chestnut and gray though a few have some black. In the case of the Snow Finch, there are whites and yellows in a few species.
   Most build bulky enclosed nests of grasses and lay 2- 7 eggs that incubate in 12-15 days with a nesting period of 15-24 days.

---

Back to Finches