Diamond Firetail
Diamond Fink
The diamond Fink ( Stagonopleura guttata ) is a species of the family of finches. It belongs to the fauna of Australia and is based there in the south and the southeast. There are no subspecies distinguished for this species.
According to IUCN, there are about 200,000 diamond finch, the stock is due to loss of habitat and competition back by introduced species. Therefore, the species is classified as "low risk".
Features
Diamond finches are 11.5 to 12 inches long. They have a bright red beak and black eyes reins. The dark iris is surrounded by an orange eye-ring. The neck is covered with feathers gray, the throat white contrast. About the breast runs a black band. On the wings are white points, which is reflected in the Latin species name guttata. Males and females are colored alike, the female is only slightly smaller.
Distribution and habitat
The diamond finch is found in eastern Australia. Its range extends from southern Queensland on the east of New South Wales and Victoria to South Australia. They also occur in the Flinders Ranges and the Eyre Peninsula. The Kangaroo Island is populated by them. Its distribution focuses on the inner side of the Great Dividing Range. The diamond Fink is a state bird that takes no long-distance hikes. A small-scale habitat change shall take place entirely.
The habitat of the diamond Finks are possible eucalyptus forests with a dense ground cover. He stays usually near watercourses, but can be found also far from the ostaustralischen Mountains. He is also a culture follower, which 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, however, it has found nests of this kind already in all months. Like many other finch species also shows the diamond Fink a Halmbalz. In this case, the male keeps a very long blade of grass in its beak and dances with it before the female. The dance movements caused by the male, the heel joints jerky stretches and bends slowly. The plumage is strongly resisted.
Diamond finches are free breeders. The Niststandort is highly variable. Nests has been found at a height of 1.60 above the ground and at heights of 30 meters. Niststandorte at a height of two to three meters in height and over 20 meters are the most common. For nesting they use grasses, plants wool, feathers and plant fibers. The nesting instinct is very highly developed; Males build occasionally even after the completion of the nest when the female broods already, continue at the nest. The nest usually consists of five eggs. Incubation period is 14 days. The fledging period is 21 to 25 days. When fledging the young birds are already highly developed and can fly well from the start. They also take very soon independently to food.
Diamond finches are kept as an ornamental bird in Europe for a long time. Already the French ornithologist Vieillot held diamond finches and is the first reported on their attitude. The first imports to Germany was held by Christiane Hagenbeck after 1870. The Australian export embargo after the second world war did not affect their importance as an ornamental bird. Between 1984 and 1987, between 1,000 and 1,500 juveniles were tightened annually in Germany. However, between 1995 and 1998 fluctuated offspring numbers 362-862 young birds.
Diamond finches need a indoor aviary or garden aviary with a shelter that has at least a room temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. The males react aggressively to reds and attack other birds that have such a body color. Diamond finches are therefore best kept in pairs.