Combassou Finches

[MLaRue]

Does anyone have experience with these birds? I would like to know more about their habits, flock interaction and just general opinion of them.

[cindy]

The male looks like a little crow right? The breeder I saw today and got my finches from, I think he had these. I saw another breeder friend of mine at the show who made a comment about them to me saying he was interested in them. He told me the male looks like a mini crow, jet black.

http://www.birdsexpress.net/combassou-f ... obird.html

[MLaRue]

Yes that is them - they are really pretty in person. But I can't really find good information on them. I hear or saw where they might be a relative to the weaver...

[newlinta]

If I remember correctly, I think they are parasitic breeders...lay their eggs in another birds nest and allow the host parents to raise them.
I believe they are African and there is a specific bird(can't remember what it is) from their area they usually use as the host...not sure if they toss the hosts eggs/chicks or not in the wild, or if they just let them raise them along side their own.
I don't know how that works in captivity?!
I guess you would just foster under some societies or something...

Tim

[cindy]

http://www.birdsexpress.net/combassou-f ... obird.html

http://www.singing-wings-aviary.com/Cur ... rivals.htm

Aren't they a member of the Whydah family? The Bird Express had a little write up about them.

[poohbear]

Never kept them,but a pal of mine did years ago.The cock bird in sunlight has a blueish tint to the feathers with a sheen like a peacock...beautiful little birds.

[Domenic]

Saw some at the bird mart today for $80 a pair. They were GORGEOUS! I wanted to get them so badly, but it was more sensible for me to get the BCCB's that I got. They are dimorphic, males are that brilliant blue/black and females are a sandy brown color, similar to the pintailed whydah. The breeder said they are very passive birds and will do fine in an aviary.