Diamond finch

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Diamond finch
Diamond finch

Diamond finch

Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Family : Fine finches (Estrildidae)
Subfamily : Lonchurinae
Genre : Diamond Finches ( Stagonopleura )
Type : Diamond finch
Scientific name
Stagonopleura guttata
( Shaw , 1796)

The diamond finch ( Stagonopleura guttata ) is a species from the family of the magnificent finches . It belongs to the fauna of Australia and is native to the south and the southeast. No subspecies are distinguished for this species.

According to the IUCN, there are around 200,000 diamond finches, and the population is declining due to habitat loss and competition from introduced species. Therefore the species is classified as "Endangered".

features

Diamond finches are 11.5 to 12 centimeters long. They have bright red bills and black reins. The dark iris is surrounded by an orange eye ring. The neck is feathered gray, but the throat is white. A black ribbon runs across the chest. There are white dots on the wings, which is reflected in the Latin species name guttata . Males and females are colored the same, the female is just slightly smaller.

distribution and habitat

The diamond finch is found in eastern Australia . Its distribution area extends from southern Queensland over the east of New South Wales and Victoria to South Australia. They are also found in the Flinders Range and the Eyre Peninsula . They also colonize the kangaroo island . Its main area of ​​distribution is the inside of the Great Dividing Range . The diamond finch is a resident bird that does not undertake long hikes. However, a small-scale change of habitat does take place.

The habitat of the diamond finch are light eucalyptus forests with a dense vegetation. It usually stays near watercourses, but can also be found far away in the Eastern Australian mountains. It is also a culture follower that is very common in parks and gardens.

Reproduction

The main breeding season of the diamond finch is the southern spring, which lasts from August to January. With the exception of the coldest months of June and July, nests of this type have been found in all months. Like many other fine finch species, the diamond finch also shows a halmbalz. The male holds a very long blade of grass in its beak and dances with it in front of the female. The dance movements are created when the male jerks the heel joints and slowly bends them again. The small plumage is strongly ruffled.

Diamond finches are free breeders. The nesting location is very variable. Nests have already been found at a height of 1.60 above the ground and at heights of 30 meters. Nesting sites at a height of two to three meters and at heights over 20 meters are the most common. They use grass, plant wool, feathers and plant fibers to build nests. The nest building instinct is very strongly developed; Males occasionally continue to build the nest even after the nest has been completed, when the female is already breeding. The clutch usually consists of five eggs. The incubation period is 14 days. The nestling period is 21 to 25 days. When flying out, the young birds are already very well developed and can fly well from the start. They also eat independently very soon.

Keeping as an ornamental bird

Diamond finches have been kept as ornamental birds in Europe for a very long time. The French ornithologist Vieillot already kept diamond finches and is the first to report on their keeping. The first imports to Germany took place after 1870 by Christiane Hagenbeck . The Australian export ban after the Second World War did not affect its importance as an ornamental bird. Between 1984 and 1987, between 1,000 and 1,500 young birds were bred annually in Germany. Between 1995 and 1998, however, the number of offspring fluctuated between 362 and 862 young birds.

Diamond finches need an indoor or garden aviary with a shelter that has a room temperature of at least 10 degrees Celsius. The males react aggressively to shades of red and attack other birds that have such a body color. Diamond finches are therefore best kept as a pair.

supporting documents

literature

  • Jürgen Nicolai (Ed.), Joachim Steinbacher (Ed.), Renate van den Elzen, Gerhard Hofmann: Prachtfinken - Australia, Oceania, Southeast Asia. Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3249-4 .
  • Peter Clement, Alan Harris, John Davis: Finches and Sparrows - An Identification Guide . Christopher Helm, London 1993, ISBN 0-7136-8017-2 .

Single receipts

  1. ^ Nicolai et al.: Magnificent finches. 2001, p. 35.
  2. ↑ BirdLife Factsheet , accessed June 21, 2010.
  3. ^ Nicolai et al.: Magnificent finches. 2001, p. 36.
  4. ^ Nicolai et al.: Magnificent finches. 2001, p. 38.
  5. ^ Nicolai et al.: Magnificent finches. 2001, p. 39.
  6. ^ Nicolai et al.: Magnificent finches. 2001, p. 39.

Web links

Commons : Diamantfink  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files