Siberian bullfinch

Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Eurasian Bullfinch is a bulky bull-headed bird. Male has grey mantle. Rump is white, contrasting with blackish tail. Wings are blackish with only one pale wing bar. Underparts are pink-red, with white vent. Head has black crown, nape, lores and chin. Cheeks and throat are pink-red. Eyes are black. Crown is bluish-black with glossy feathers. Short, conical low-based bill is blackish. Legs and feet ate pinkish-brown. Female has grey-brown underparts and mantle, this one slightly darker than underparts. Juvenile resembles adult female, but it lacks black on crown and around the bill. It has buff-brown wing bar.

The key words here are "balanced diet" and "avoidance of excess feeding" The foundation is a good seed mixture and also EGGFEED. In the winter 2-3 times a week, which is gradually increased to every day in March. If you ask 100 birdbreeders, they all have different recipes for egg feed. Important is the protein content. Too little results in a delay in getting into breeding condition. Too much results in overactivity (especially the cock) which also results in failure

With some exceptions chicks of European birds need animal protein in the first stage of their life. This is provided in the form of egg feed supplemented with germinated seeds and insects. Giving small portions many times a day is better than big portions a few times a day. The egg feed is then always fresh and the parents are triggered to start feeding when there is "something new" on the plate.

These are a couple of important rules of the thumb. At many more places on my website these topics are discussed more extensively. Every breeder pays the learning fee and there will be disappointments. Listen to everybody, but remain critical (also what you have been reading here on my website). Start with an "easy" bird become a member of a breeder society.

European goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis balcanica

Goldfinches are smaller than a house sparrow, with a bright yellow wingbar visible both in flight and when perched. Wings and tail otherwise black (some white spots near tail tip), contrasting with the buff-brown back. Adults have diagnostic bright red, white and black facial feathering. The red is more extensive in the males, especially above and behind the eye. Juveniles have drab brown on the head. Often in flocks (small or large), goldfinches have a bouncy undulating flight accompanied by frequent liquid, tinkly calling.

Monogamous within each breeding season, goldfinch pairs defend a small territory around the nest, with the male singing his pleasant liquid song from a nearby perch. The small woven cup nest lined with thistle down, feathers or wool is usually placed among foliage in an outer fork of a tree, shrub or grape vine. The breeding season from October to February allows time to raise two broods of up to six chicks each (typically 4-5). The male feeds the female on the nest while she incubates and broods the young chicks; both sexes feed the chicks for their final week in the nest, and for the first 2-3 weeks after fledging.

Forage on ground and at all levels of vegetation, usually in small flocks. Diet predominantly weed seeds, supplemented by small invertebrates especially during the breeding season, when they are fed to the growing chicks. Important food items include seeds of thistles, pigweed and fat hen (Chenopodium spp.), dandelion, chickweed, Poa annua, ryegrass, paspalum and other grasses.

Eurasian siskin

Spinus spinus

Adult male is greenish-yellow overall when seen in wild. But at close quarters, we can see all the details.
Upperparts are greenish-yellow with yellower rump. Upperwing shows black flight feathers with yellow edges. Scapulars are greenish-yellow, slightly streaked with black. We can see two conspicuous yellow wing bars. Forked tail is black with yellow patch at base of outer rectrices.
On the underparts, throat and breast are yellow. Belly is whitish, slightly streaked grey. Flanks are whitish with heavier blackish streaking.

On the head, forehead and crown are black, as the chin. Ear-coverts, cheeks and nape are yellow washed pale grey. 

Song is fairly melodious, a sweet undulating series of twittering phrases, but ending in a raspy “kreee”. This song is given during the flight displays or from tree tops.    

Eurasian Siskin feeds mainly on seeds of pine and spruce, but also of other trees. During the nesting period, it also takes insects for feeding the young.

Female lays 3 to 5 white, pale blue or grey eggs, with small spots or streaks. Incubation lasts about 11-12 days by female. Male feeds her during this period.
Chicks are fed by both parents by regurgitated past directly into the throat. This past is made with seeds, insects and water.
Nesting period lasts about two weeks. Young remain near the nest for 4-5 days and fledge at one month. They form small groups with adults which start a second brood, usually in June.

Standard zebra finch

Taeniopygia guttata castanotis

Zebra Finches originate from Australia. Zebras live in open grasslands with some bushes and trees.  They live in dry areas over most of Australia.  They live in groups and eat mostly grass seeds.  They build their nests in bushes out of grass, straw, feathers and anything else they can find.  They lay 3-6 eggs and both parents participate in raising the young.  The currently accepted taxonomic nomenclature for the Zebra is "Taeniopygia guttata castanotis".

Zebra finches live to be 4-8 years of age.

Males: The normal male bird has a gray upper body and wings.  The belly is white.  The beak and legs are a red-orange color.  On each side of the head is a cheek patch.  There is a 'tear drop' mark under the eye.  This is a brown/tan/fawn color commonly called orange.  The flanks/sides of the bird just below the wings, is a chestnut (orange) colored area with white dots.  The chest is black and white stripped like a zebra, hence the name zebra finch.  A truly beautiful bird!

Females: The female also has a gray upper body and wings with a white belly.  The beak and legs are the same red-orange color but not as deep color, lighter.  She has a black 'tear drop' mark under the eye.  The most noticable differences between males and females are the cheek patches and the chest striping.

Society finch

Lonchura domestica

The Society finch Lonchura striata domestica is one of the subspecies of White-rumped Munia. It is a popular domesticated finch whose ancestry is the subject of debate.

The society finch is the only type of finch that doesn't live in the wild. It is mostly accepted that these species of finches were first bred by the Chinese and over the years, breeders around the world have managed to breed lots of color variations

These little birds are known for their ability to get along so well with everyone including other finches hence their name "society" suggests. They are cheerful little birds that do well in groups and are quite easy to look after. They are also quite easy to breed if, of course, adequately sexed which is very difficult as both genders look exactly the same. Gender could be determined by behavior since the male of these species tend to sing to impress and court the female.

Society Finches are hardy, easy to take care of, come in a variety of color mutations and make excellent parents.Like the Zebra Finches, they are often used to raise the chicks of less successful finch parents.