Finch Origins
There are several types of finches, each coming from different finch origins. The most common and numerous type of finch is the Zebra finch, also called the Chestnut Flanker finch. Normally, the nape’s, head and back is grey, the tail is black and white, and the wings are a dark to fawn-grey. The males and females both have brown eyes, orange legs, and white bellies. The males have red orange beaks and chestnut flanks with numerous white spots. Some of them have zebra stripes on their chin, upper chest and neck, and a solid black band that connects to the belly. These birds are about 4 inches although the German and English varieties can get larger. Zebra finches originated from Australia, and are also found in Tasmania.
Gouldian finches, another type of finch also known by other names such as Yellow Gouldian and Australia Yellow Gouldian, originated from Australia. One of the most colorful among all birds, their mutation was first observed in the year 1981. November and couch grasses are these birds top choices when it comes to nest materials. They don’t usually use feathers in nest building unlike other finches. They have no qualms about using their previous nest box for an entire breeding season.
Society finches are another type of finch and do not exist in the wild. Said to have descended from White-backed or Sharp-tailed manikins, they first bred in China, introduced to Japan, and soon imported to Europe. No two Society finches are exactly alike. Many various mutations in color have been observed.
The male Society finches are considered boisterous singers. In courtship, they will sing their songs and puff their feathers to appear tall. They also have a sort of dance routine involving hopping from one perch to another. As with other types of finches, the female Society finches do not really sing, but make warning or clicking sounds.
Finch origins are quite interesting. Another type of finch, a rather unique one in various ways, is the green singing finch. Greenish and yellow in color, are said to have originated from Africa where they prefer a semi-arid environment. They are more aggressive than any other types of finches. They can’t tolerate being with other types of birds or even other finches. They can get aggressive especially during breeding, when they are housed too close among other birds.
The green singers are absolutely fun to watch. Their energy level is very high and they particularly enjoy hopping around from perch to perch. They are very lively birds and seem to appear as if they are always doing something. Some of them display odd but funny behaviors such as, hanging upside down and twisting their heads repeatedly. They are highly private birds and like other finches, can get panicky especially when someone suddenly turns up near their cage. Like all other types of finches, it is important to establish a consistent schedule for cleaning and feeding so you do not to panic the birds which might just endanger their health.
