Parrot Finches —



299



COMMON OR RED-HEADED, AND TRI¬

COLOURED OR BLUE-HEADED PARROT

FINCHES (ERTTHRURA PS ITT ACE A AND


E. TRICHROA )


By P. B. Webb


Perhaps some members may find parts of the following of interest

should they ever be fortunate enough to possess a pair of Parrot Finches

of either of the above kinds.


Before I go further I think something should be said about the

temperament of both species. This seems necessary as, about two

years ago, I recommended my friend Mr. P. W. Teague (of Gouldian

fame) to try a pair of these birds. Shortly after he managed to get

a true pair of Blue-headed which he successfully bred. I was surprised

a little time ago to see his advertisement in our Magazine for both the

old pair and their young. The following day I had a letter from him

saying that he had lost interest in them as they were so wild and that

he feared it was their nature because, try as he would, he could not

gain the confidence of either the old pair or the young.


Well, it is perfectly true that both these kinds of Parrot Finches

are very energetic indeed, and are inclined to be shy—particularly

the Blue-headed—but they are not, to my mind, wild—just “ fidgety

Phils ”. Compared with the stolid Gouldian, or even the Pintail

Nonpareil (which is a near relation), they are as the active fox terrier

to the placid bulldog. Possibly Mr. Teague has made this mistake,

but he has had a far greater experience of birds than I have and I think

it more likely that he has been unlucky in getting a “ strain ” with

wild and nervous dispositions.


The word “ strain ” may seem a curious one to use here, as a species

of bird or beast usually has the same temperament stamped hard

and fast in each individual, but this is only so provided they have

not been interfered with by mankind.


So far as I can find out the Blue-head is a bird which is practically

never imported, and yet it is more common than the Red-headed,

which is imported in small numbers very occasionally. The only

possible reason for this is that it is more frequently bred in captivity.



