Yellow Belly Waxbills and Owls

[MLaRue]

Sally, did you see the pics and movie links I posted? The movies are great!

I couldn't get the movies to work for me?

[MLaRue]

Ursula, most are imported. I don't know anyone that has bred them. Although I would think someone has. I sure hope to breed mine when I put them in the aviary in the Spring.

Johnboy,

What kind do you have? How many pairs do you have?

[MLaRue]

Here are a few links that will give descriptions and details of size, color and general appearance.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Rainforest-Bi ... id=1053752

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13101875@N00/4016002438/

http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/vi ... &did=29195

http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/li ... %20waxbill

[JohnBoy]

Ursula, most are imported. I don't know anyone that has bred them. Although I would think someone has. I sure hope to breed mine when I put them in the aviary in the Spring.

Johnboy,

What kind do you have? How many pairs do you have?

I have 2 pair of the YB. I've had one pair for a year when my male mysteriously died. So I have a female in the aviary and 2 males and a female caged in my house. I loved them so much I wanted to get more but it had been a while since they had become available. So when they did last month I ordered a pair plus a male to go with my lone female. I can't put the birds in the aviary till Spring because it was too late to let them acclimate to the cold weather.

They are the sweetest little birds. And they are always so well groomed.

[MLaRue]

Johnboy,

I'm happy to hear you got more! They are very clean and neat aren't they? I gave mine a bath yesterday and they must have taken a bath every hour because when I got home their cage floor was dripping wet with water!

I just hope I have a male and female this time. Last time I got nothing but females and never was able to get any males.

[cindy]

Misty, your owls are really nice, they are such sweet birds. you'll enjoy their antics. The YB Waxbills are so pretty, I thought so when John posted his. Sweet little bird. Good luck to you, enjoy the new arrivals!

Being happy with your birds is what is most important. My owls were brought in from Canada. The breeder I deal with wanted owls but the market is very slim for those right now in Florida, just not a lot out there. He knew a breeder selling his new stock and made a deal to buy the lot, he picked a few pairs, saved the two for pairs for me and sold the rest for a fair price. Both pairs are 1 and 1/2 to 2 yrs old.

As you can see from my posts about them they are doing great, building and doing their thing.

[JohnBoy]

Johnboy,
I just hope I have a male and female this time. Last time I got nothing but females and never was able to get any males.

Misty, The male has a much brighter yellow belly than the female.

[MLaRue]

What about the tail area - does the male have more red and a darker red than the female?

[JohnBoy]

What about the tail area - does the male have more red and a darker red than the female?

Look at your pair real good. They are quite similar and hard to tell but the male has more yellow on the breast. The yellow is slightly lighter on the female but that could be hard to tell. I don't know if this is with all birds but my males yellow extends a little further up the breast than the female.

Oh forgot. The red color on the tail appears the same to me.

[MLaRue]

Thanks Johnboy and will catch them tonight and look real good at the belly area.

I'm going to send some feathers in to have them DNA sexed either way and will let you know if the tail area seems to have any merit in it...

[MLaRue]

I found more pictures

http://www.birdquest.net/afbid/birdspec ... bs_id=2302

[MLaRue]

This website has gorgeous pictures but none of the Swees or YB

http://leesbirdblogb.wordpress.com/fm/estrildidae/

[JohnBoy]

I found more pictures

http://www.birdquest.net/afbid/birdspec ... bs_id=2302

Did you notice the faint stripes on the wings of the female?

She is gorgeous!

[DVBourassa]

The YB waxbills are beautiful. It's interesting how their beaks are two different colors.

[dfcauley]

Misty,

Do you know if the Swees (or yellow bellied waxbills) are imported or US bred?

These birds are imported. Which is one of the reasons I decided not to get
a pair although he had saved me one.

Donna you know or knew the Jameson's were imports as well too - right?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefinch

Either way I'm happy you have them - they are gorgeous!

Yes Misty, I know the Jameson's are imports as well as my Dybowski's. I do want Swee's and will be getting them at a later time if I can. Just didn't want to get any imports right now for several reasons. I have wanted Swee's now for a long, long time as most on this forum know.........maybe next time.