FINCHforum

The bird molted again and is getting to be a spectacular looking bird. It looks like a black headed nun with the scales of the spice.
Sorry for the poor quality pics. I just could not seem to get a clear one. The camera was having focusing problems.

Your pictures are wonderful...he is very unique!! I really like how he looks...the different tones are really nice.

Neat looking bird!

Love the way the colours blend

Reminds me a bit of the Chestnut Mannikin. Very unusual bird.

VERY pretty bird!!!! It has some qualities of the painted finch also.

Looks similar to my hybrid that I thought was an owl until it fledged... ANY idea if yours is sterile?

monotwine wrote:Looks similar to my hybrid that I thought was an owl until it fledged...

The attachment Bengalese x Owl.jpg is no longer available

ANY idea if yours is sterile?

I have no clue. But I would think they are not sterile. Both are Lonchura. I do not plan on breeding it though. There are others that are not finished coloring out but they do not seem to be as pretty as this one.
What other mannikins besides the spice do you have together.
I have 6 black and white mannikins and quite a few spice. All the mannikins were paired off so I have no clue why one mannikin took to the spice instead of it's kind.
Anyway I found these birds that are pure and and look similar to the hybrid I have.

Spice are very pretty.

I no longer keep any Lonchura with my Owl finches because of this little mishap and an owl hen who is rather loose...
I also never bred this offspring, but found a pet home for it. It is still doing well.
I have one pair of foster Societies that live in their own cage, but that is all.
I used to keep the pied mannikin, but they became problematic and aggressive.