The Cuban finch.

(Tiaris canora)

Suitability: These little guys are one of the only finches available to us here in Australia that hail from the Americas. They are members of the Grassquit family and they like livefood as well as seeds in order for them to be fully productive. They love seed mixes with small seeds such as those in our Taste of Africa line which were developed for the Waxbill family and is also well received by these finches too!
Recommended as single pairs to an aviary – some have had success with them as a colony bird but usually with no other finches in their cage!
Suggest young hens and cocks are removed from the cage as soon as they are fully independent.
Breeding: Will breed without livefood but best results achieved with it – maggots, mealworms and termites all equally eaten.

Will build their own nest with swamp grass, white and Emu feathers, cotton wool and cotton lintus.
Recommended: Equally for the novice wanting to move up into the more insectivorous finches or just wishing to introduce a bit of a character into the aviary as the Cuban can become very tame and confiding.
Do not let their size and endearing nature fool you as they can be a problem in the mixed aviary – not recommended for inclusion with any of the blue Waxbills or Green singing finches.
Their small size definitely does not mean they will be picked on by larger finches!

Mutations: The only ones we are aware of are the odd yellow birds that appear from time to time but these are infrequently available.
Permits: None required in NSW.