Green Singer Finches
Green singer finches are a lovely addition to any indoor or outdoor aviary collection. They can be housed alone or in a mixed species collection.
They are a relatively easy to breed species under the right aviary conditions. They will lay 2-4 pale blue eggs in a cup shaped nest made of grasses, teased short pieces of hessian or coconut fiber and shredded animal hair.
Breeding
Green singer finches can be a bit tricky to breed. They have a tendency to be aggressive and territorial with other species in an aviary, especially birds that look similar to them. This can result in injury or even death so care should be taken when placing other birds with a breeding pair.
In captivity, green singers have a lifespan of 8-10+ years. They are a species listed on the CITES Appendices, so focusing on breeding in captivity is one way to help save them from the wild.
Green singers are typically kept in individual breeding cages or large flights and planted aviaries. Evergreen plants with branches positioned inside the cages offer them spots to perch and play. They also love bathing in clean freshwater and do so frequently. This also helps them trim their claws. They can be fed a good songbird seed mix as well as greens and sprouted seeds. Always provide a cuttle bone and mineral block as well.
Care
Affectionately known as green singer finches and yellow fronted canaries (Serius Mozambicus) these lively little birds are active, chirpy and fun to watch. They will breed readily in captivity and can live up to 10 years if properly cared for. They require a good quality finch mix and seeding grasses as well as fresh vegetables and fruit. In addition, a bit of supplementary protein in the form of meat or insects may be helpful during breeding season.
Green singer finches like a large cage or aviary that is well planted with lots of branches and hiding spots. They do best in a separate room away from other birds as they are very territorial during the breeding season. They also do not get along with cockatiels or other yellow feathered species and should be kept alone.
Click on “Housing Finches” web page for general details on housing Non Australian finches and read notes specific to this bird. Only one pair of green singers should be housed per aviary to minimize aggression.
Feeding
In the wild green singer finches forage in pairs and small family groups year round but become more sociable during breeding season. They eat seeds and fruits but are also fond of plant sprouts, berries and insects.
In captivity, they can be bred as pairs or mixed with other species, such as canaries, if enough space is provided in the enclosure to allow them to separate themselves when necessary. However, their tolerance of other species varies, and mixed species groupings may be unsuccessful if the birds are too closely related.
Provide a basic seed mix and some leafy green vegetables along with fruit, sprouts and fresh berries to ensure that your green singer finch has a balanced diet. Some owners choose to add molting foods, song food or conditioning foods to the regular diet but they should not make up more than about 15% of your bird’s total intake. The rest of your pet’s meal should consist of commercially available pelleted bird food.
Health
Observe finch behavior and watch for signs of illness. Many symptoms are behavioral and may not show up as physical signs until the disease has progressed. Keeping an eye on your bird will help you catch diseases in the early stages and increase the chances of your bird recovering.
A small African relative of the canary, green singer finches are brightly colored, and males resemble females. Males sing in a beautiful lilting voice. Females do not sing. Green singer finches require privacy when breeding. They can become aggressive and territorial during this period, so it is best to house one male and female together.
Feed green singer finches a quality songbird seed mix that includes niger seeds. Also add fresh, finely chopped kale for calcium. This is an important part of their diet during breeding season. Also feed a bit of crushed eggshells for protein and grit to aid digestion. Avoid feeding your bird millet as this seed is deficient in nutrients.