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Animal-World > Pet Birds > Finches > Finch Families

Finches Index

For more information about the care of Finches see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Finch

Finch Families


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.


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Find your pet finch in the chart below!

Finch: Family:
African Silverbill Lonchura cantans
Estrildidae: Munia/Mannikin
Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata
Estrildidae: Mannikin
Canary (Island Canary) Serinus canaria
Cordonbleu Waxbill Estrilda angolensis
Estrildidae: Waxbill
Cordonbleu, Red-cheeked Uraeginthus bengalus
Estrildidae: Waxbill
Cuban Melodious Finch Tiaris canora
Cutthroat or Ribbon Finch Amadina fasciata
Estrildidae: Munia/Mannikin.
Diamond Sparrow Stagonopleura guttata or Emblema guttata
Estrildidae: Grass/Parrot
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
European or Northern Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Estrildidae: Grass/Parrot
Golden-breasted Waxbill Amandava subflava
Estrildidae: Waxbill
Golden-crowned Bishop Euplectues afra
Golden Sparrow Passer luteus
Gouldian Finch Poephila gouldiae
Estrildidae: Grass/Parrot
Green Singing Finch Serinus mozambicus
Hawaiian finches
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Indian Silverbill Lonchura malabarica
Estrildidae: Munia/Mannikin
Island Canary Serinus canaria
Java Sparrow or Rice Bird Padda oryzivora
Estrildidae: Munia/Mannikin.
Lavender finch Estrilda coerulescens
Estrildidae: Waxbill
Masked Grass Finch Poephila personata
Estrildidae: Grass/Parrot
Nun, Black-headed (also called Chestnut Munia) Lonchura malacca atricapilla
Estrildidae: Munia
Nun, Three-colored (also called Chestnut Munia) Lonchura ferruginosa malacca
Nun, Tri-colored (also called Chestnut Munia) Lonchura malacca malacca
Nun, White-headed Lonchrua maja
Orange-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda melpoda
Estrildidae: Waxbill
Orange-breasted Waxbill Estrilda subflava
Estrildidae: Waxbill
Orange-breasted or Rainbow Bunting Passerina leclancherii
Orange Weaver Euplectes orix franciscana
Owl or Bicheno's Finch Poephila bichenovi
Estrildidae: Grass/Parrot
Paradise WhydahVidua macroura
Parrot finch, Blue-faced Erythrura trichroa
Estrildidae: Grass/Parrot
Parrot Finch, Red-headed Erythrura psittacea 
Estrildidae: Grass/Parrot
Parson Finch Poephila cincta
Estrildidae: Grass/Parrot
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
Purple Grenadier Uraeginthus iathinogaster
Estrildidae: Waxbill
Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala
Estrildidae: Waxbill
Red-eared, Gray or Black-rumped Waxbill Estrilda troglodytes
Estrildidae: Waxbill
Red Siskin Carduelis cucullata
Red-tailed or Star Finch Bathilda ruficauda or Poephila ruficauda
Estrildidae: Grass/Parrot
Shaft-tailed or Long-tailed Grass Finch Poephila acuticauda
Estrildidae: Grass/Parrot
Society Finch or Bengalese Lonchura striata
Estrildidae: Munia/Mannikin
Spice finch or Nutmeg mannikin Lonchura punctulata
Estrildidae: Mannikin
Strawberry finch or Red Avadavat Estrilda amandava
Estrildidae: Waxbill
Violet-eared Waxbill Uraeginthus grantinus
Estrildidae: Waxbill
White-winged Snow Finch Montifringilla nivalis
Zebra finch Poephila guttata castanotis
Estrildidae: Grass/Parrot





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