7 Most Popular Types Of Finches
Finches are incredibly intelligent, curious, affectionate, and self-reliant. There are several different types of finches to consider adopting as pets, as seen here.
Finches come in over a hundred different varieties around the world, but not all of them are common as pets. In fact, only a few domesticated finch species are allowed to be kept as pets.
Since it is illegal to keep wild finch species as pets, select a domesticated species and ensure that the bird you buy was bred in captivity rather than caught in the wild if you are considering finches as a pet.
Some of the most popular types of finches include:
- Zebra Finch
- Gouldian Finch
- Society Finch
- Star Finch
- Owl Finch
- Strawberry Finch
- Spice Finch
Different Types Of Finches
1) Zebra Finch
The zebra finch is by far one of the most common finch species kept as pets, owing to their high resistance to disease. Zebra finches reach a height of about 4 inches (10 cm) and weigh 17 to 19 grams when fully grown.
The black and white striped pattern on the head and upper chest contrasts with a bright white belly and chestnut patches on the cheeks and under the wings to give these small birds their name.
The spotted-sided finch, also known as the Chestnut-eared finch, comes in a variety of colors, including a completely white mutation and a fawn-colored mutation.
Zebra finches are a social and active breed native to Australia, but they can also be aggressive and territorial. These finches don’t sing very well, but they reproduce a lot.
2) Gouldian Finch
The Gouldian Finch, also known as the Lady Gouldian Finch, is a finch with a bright coloration. These tiny birds have vivid purple chests, yellow bellies that fade to white, and green backs in different shades.
The head is black with a tinge of orange or red. The rainbow finch and the purple-breasted finch are two nicknames for the species due to their colorful plumage. It is also known as the painted finch, despite the fact that this name refers to a different species.
At maturity, the Gouldian Finch stands about 5 inches (13 cm) tall and weights 16 to 17 grams. In captivity, these finches are extremely hardy, but it may take them a while to adjust to their new surroundings.
Gouldian finches are classified as a passive group, meaning they get along well with other birds. These finches have a poor singing voice and are difficult to breed.
3) Society Finch
The society finch, also known as the Bengalese finch (due to its Asian origins), is a small and hardy finch that gets along well with other finches.
These birds reach a height of about 4 inches (10 cm) and come in a variety of colors and patterns, but brown is the most common.
These birds have excellent singing abilities and are prolific breeders.
Males sing more than females, and their songs are often similar to the male bird that raised them. The Society Finch’s song is a little squeaky, often with a rattle – males sing more than females, and their songs are often similar to the male bird that raised them.
The Society Finch is a domesticated finch that evolved from an Asian finch species. It is not present in the wild. This species is extremely social, always grooming in groups, and will even serve as foster parents, raising chicks from other species in addition to their own.
4) Star Finch
The Star Finch has a bright red mask, a greenish-yellow chest, an olive-green back, and a throat with white spots, making it one of the easiest finch species to recognize (although there are color mutations with yellow faces).
These birds reach a maximum size of 4.25 inches (11 cm) and weigh about 14 grams. Star Finches take a little longer to adjust to their new surroundings, but once they do, they are a hardy breed. Since these birds are also very passive, they get along with other finches well.
The Star Finches have a quiet song that is very pleasant to listen to. The calm, quiet, and peaceful aspect of this species originates in Australia. The Star Finch is a prolific breeder who lives in flocks of medium to large scale. The majority of their diet consists of seeds and insects.
Also Read: What Do Parakeets Eat? A Complete Guide of Parakeets Food
5) Owl Finch
The owl finch gets its name from the colors and patterns of the owl. A brownish-gray body, black and white striped wings, a dark tail, and a white upper chest distinguish these birds.
The bright white mask, which is bordered by a thin black band and another black band that crosses the lower part of the chest, is what really sets this species apart. The beaks of these finches are also blue-gray.
Owl types of finches are is friendly and social breed that is also very passive, allowing them to get along with a variety of other animals. These birds take some time to acclimate, but once they do, they are extremely hardy and prolific breeders in captivity.
At maturity, the Finch owl stands up to 4 inches (10 cm) tall and weighs 15 to 17 grams. Since these birds are more rare than other species, they are more costly to purchase.
6) Strawberry Finch
The Strawberry Finch, also known as the Red Avadavat, is a small finch species with bright red coloration and white spots.
At maturity, these birds reach a height of 3.6 to 4 inches (9 to 10 cm) and weigh about 7 grams. Strawberry finches take some time to acclimate, but once they do, they are very hardy and live for a long time.
The Strawberry types of Finches is known for its bright red color and outstanding singing performance, in addition to its bright red color.
While their sexual dimorphism makes it easy to differentiate males from females, these finches are a little difficult to breed. Male Strawberry Finches have a lovely flute-like song, and although female Strawberry Finches sing as well, it is not as loud.
7) Spice Finch
Because of the scale-like pattern on its chest, the Spice Finch is also known as the Scaly-Breasted Munia. The head, back, tail, and wings of these finches are normally brown, with a white chest painted in a scalelike pattern.
There are thirteen subspecies of this species, which are also known as the Nutmeg Finch, Spotted Mannikin, or Mascot Finch.
Spice Finches are slightly larger than other finches, reaching 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) in height but weighing just 9.5 grams. These finches are hardy and peaceful, and they get along well with other finches.
On the negative side, these finches don’t sing much and are difficult to breed. Even the Spice Finch is a perfect option if you’re looking for a peaceful and social bird.
Final Thoughts
You may have a better idea whether or not finches are the right pet for you now that you know more about them. However, before you make your decision, you should familiarize yourself with some of the specifics of keeping finches as pets.
In this segment, you’ll learn about keeping finches with other finches and other pets, as well as an overview of the benefits and drawbacks of keeping finches as pets.
