FINCHforum

So sorry not to be providing photos but I have two full siblings who have yellow backs. One is white breasted and has a pale blue collar - I assume he is SF yellow. The full sibling is PB but no blue collar. I'm hoping someone can explain to me the visual differences between SF and DF yellows.

Liz, if you happen to read this - these two are the now 1 year old babies of Kansas X Montana. Out of that pairing I also had two dilute males.

Thanks so much in advance of any guidance you experts can provide!

Hi Randa, The pale blue collar, or absence of the collar, is the visible difference between SF and DF yellow males; and you can get both from one set of parents.

SF males - pale blue collar
DF males - no blue collar

BTW - could the PB with no yellow collar be a hen? In which case she would have to be a SF as all hens are.

Thanks for the update!

Now that's a good question, Liz. I had always thought the PB was a hen. She had a head that started out very orangy but is now more red (but still not truly red) and has a red tipped beak. There is no evidence of any darkening of the beak so I thought, wow, maybe I'm wrong and this is not a hen. She also has never displayed any type of male courting behaviour (another reason I thought she was a hen).

BTW, her full brother, the SF yellow like his dad, has just become a dad himself to FIVE gorgeous babies. Florida (Aurora) is mom. They are both WB. These babies hatched last Friday.

Wow - I'm a grand-fid-mother x 3 generations?!?! This is wonderful that they are doing so well for you! Obviously they appreciate their surroundings and well-being.

If you can post a pic of the PB bird - perhaps the forum can help determine the gender based on the size of the facial mask (head colouring) and the depth of the breast & belly colouration.

I hope my initial assumption that she is a hen is correct. Got great shots of everyone else but her/him? Funny how they know! Though of very poor quality, this is the best I can do for the moment.

BTW Liz, your birds are giving me so many chicks I have to be really strict about breeding. Last brood - 7 babies, now 5 heathy well fed and tended chicks.

sorry, file was too big. I'll try again.

Congrats on the great clutches and great parents

I would have to say that is a hen due the amount of colour on the beak. I don't think males get that much red. She's a real beauty, Randa!!

BTW - how are your Forbes doing? Mine have built a nest inside the wicker nest I put in there (at the front of the cage where they were dropping nesting material but not in any of the greenery provided on the other side of the cage that also houses 3 other nests), but no eggs as yet.

Thanks Candace! My greatest joy is sitting and watching them for hours when possible. Sometimes I believe I am starting to *think* like a bird. That, no doubt, makes me "bird brained".

Thanks Liz...I've always thought of her as a hen also (until just recently when I started to wonder). You can also see the difference in colour of the PB compared to the male sitting next to her. So, she is a SF yellow also then? The SF hens don't have the blue collar?

My Forbes are just biding their time. At one point this summer I thought something might be in the breeze, but no.

Are you going/showing at the Brampton show in November?

Females are always SF no matter what - they cannot be DF ever. Yes I see her breast is a little lighter purple than the male sitting beside her.

I'm considering going to the Brampton show Nov 13-14 but it's a lot of work for me to get ready and all my other critters get neglected for the whole weekend (other birds at home, 4 fishtanks that need cleaning, parrots that need to be let out for exercise...). I have many birds (ok just 7) that I'd love to show but I only have 3 or 4 showboxes. I have to try and organize myself a little better somehow. I wish a show would be IN Barrie!!!

Being labelled a "birdbrain" is actually a GOOD thing. Birds are very intelligent!

Hope to see you there, but as a nonchalant spectator!

My oldest son who is a marine biologist had a 160 gallon salt water aquarium here at one point. Wow, that was amazing!

Thanks for the help re. Sundrop.....guess I was right at the beginning. And yes, I should have known about the hen SF thing....I was just confusing myself further.

My pleasure Randa. Are you going to be showing any birds in Brampton or were you saying you would be the nonchalant spectator?

No. I really don't know the first thing about showing birds, Liz. Perhaps some day. I must read up and learn about it.