Exotic finch species are not for the novice hobbyist. Many of these species require specific temperatures, diet, housing, and hours of light and dark. They aren't necessarily frail birds, but they are less likely to handle stress well. Keeping and breeding a heathy stock of these birds is very important to aviculture, as with some of the rarer parrot species, importing new bloodlines isn't possible anymore. Without proper care and knowledge of these birds they will not breed successfully.

The species in this article will range from exotic to uncommon.

Whydahs - Are slowly becoming a more recognizable finch to most visitors to the local shows I attend. They are small and beautiful little birds. What has drawn people to them is the males plumage during the breeding season. The males will grow a very long fancy tail, often twice the body length when they're full grown. The most commonly found Whydah is the Pin-tailed Whydah (Vidua macroura).

What people don't realize is that these birds are very aggressive and they are brood-parasitic finches. Whydahs do not rear their own young. They lay their eggs in Waxbills nests, Most commonly in St. Helena Waxbills nests, but most any Waxbill will do. The Waxbills are left to the task of hatching and raising the Whydahs young. Some of the Whydahs will crack the Waxbill eggs to ensure their young have the best chance of survival.

Being a bird of the tropics as the Waxbills are, Whydahs need to be kept in a warm, draft free environment. and will enjoy some sunlight. Feeding a Whydah is like feeding a Waxbill. Coming from the same areas and needing Waxbills to raise their young, this makes sense. They will need plenty of cage space to fly around, especially during the breeding season. You don't want that beautiful tail getting tattered or plucked off.

Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola)- Sometimes called the Canaries of South America. They are overall a yellow to golden color with a more green/dusky back and a small orange spot on the forehead. Saffrons are excellent singers but the melody can get repetitious.

Saffrons enjoy a seed diet, much like that of a Canary with the addition of Niger, Millet, greens, and live foods. They are somewhat flighty birds and should be housed in large flights or planted aviaries. When in mixed aviary the Saffron isn't an aggressive bird and should live comfortably with a few other species.

The females look like the males except that they are duller in overall coloration. Breeding requires a breeder box setup.

Twinspots - There are at least 6 different species of Twinspots that I know of. There may be more I don't know about. The most commonly found would be the Dybowski Twinspot (Euschistospiza dybowskii).What gives them their name is the white spots on their flanks of the males which is present on all varieties. All Twinspots can be visually sexed and the males have a pleasant song. They inhabit savannas with tall grasses and shrubbery to hide in. They are ground dwellers whose diet consists mostly of seeds and insects.

Twinspots can be very aggressive birds, especially towards their mates if they have just been paired together. It's best to breed Twinspots in pairs. If you have a small harem arrangement the most dominant female may attack and possibly kill the others. Males tend to pluck their mate during the breeding season as well.

Like the Whydahs the Twinspots need to be kept warm, 70 degrees Fahrenheit minimum.

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)- These birds have been kept as pets in Europe for years but they have become popular in the US only recently. Unlike the male America Goldfinch, the European Goldfinch isn't yellow and black. The European Goldfinch is, in my opinion, much prettier. Both males and females look alike, only the females have a little less of everything.

The males sound somewhat like canaries when they call and sing with an added warbling sound. Being common in the backyards of homes and in fields of Europe, they are comfortable in a variety of climates and adapt quickly to a new environment when not stressed.

They will eat a variety of domestic and wild seeds as well as insects and fruits. They should be allowed to build their own nests which when finished will look like little bowls.

Insecta-Pro - Fed moist or dry, Insecta-Pro is ideal for a range of insectivores, but not Iron sensitive species. Select a size: 450g = $15.60

Melba Finch (Pytilia melba)- Is part of the Pytilia Family. The Melba or Green-Winged Pytilia males are very colorful little birds. Sexing them is easy, the females looks very plain and drab next to the bright colors of the male. The only traits the various Pytilias share is the bold red coloring somewhere on their bodies and the striped pattern on their flanks. They originate from the central band across Africa, like other finches from this area they will need a warm, draft free environment.

All of the Pytilias do best in a large planted aviary, with plenty of places to hide and build nests. A good varied seed diet is a must along with live foods or eggfood for breeding seasons. While they can live contently with other species they will sometimes show aggression towards others. It's usually a good idea to house them in their own flight or aviary.

Red Headed Finch (Amadina erthrocephala)- Though most people hear 'Red Headed Finch' and think 'Red Headed Parrot Finch', this is not a Parrot Finch. These are large finches, like that of a Java Sparrow. The Red Heads originate from Africa and are like cousins to the Cutthroat Finch. Because of the relation Red Heads and Cutthroats shouldn't be housed together, they may interbreed.

Red Heads are not as aggressive as the Cutthroats but still should not be housed in small flights with smaller species of finches. They can get a little pushy. The Red Head is a hardy bird but will not tolerate a damp cold environment. Diet is the same as most African finches; seed, millet, greens, bugs and always lots of fresh water. Sexing is very easy because only the males will sport the flashy red head plumage. Both sexes will be overall a tan/brown an white color with a scale like pattern; much like that of the Cutthroats and Spice finches.

Cherry Finch (Aidemosyne modesta)- Also known as the Plum-Headed Finch, this is an Australian finch. Where did they get the name "Plum-Headed"?. Probably from the plum colored spot on the forehead and just below the lower bill. The Females will lack the chin plum color and be over all a duller color. They have a white belly, black/white stripes from the flanks to lower half of the head and a reddish-brown back. Americans seem to be the only ones who actively refer to these birds as Cherry Finches.

Cherry Finches are very active birds much like Zebra finches. They are social with other species and will get along in a mixed aviary. They have been known to interbreed with Zebra, Society, Long-Tail Grass Finches, and Silverbills just to name a few. This hybridization should not be encouraged.