FINCHforum

Hi everyone! I'm new to the forum and new (in the last year) to bird ownership. I am hoping tomorrow to get a pair of birds and the ones I've narrowed it down to are OWL FINCHES, LAVENDER FINCHES or SHAFT TAIL FINCHES. I had a long tail grass finch before that I loved (he had the black dot on his chest), and I loved his song as well. I don't know if these shaft tail ones will have the same song (I haven't heard them sing when I've seen them at all yet). Does anyone know what they sound like, and if it's the same as the long tail grass finch? My main concern is that I don't want a squawky bird. I had an overly squawky Zebra before and it drove me mental. I've listened to a few videos of Owl finches and worry they might be a bit squawky. Thoughts? If you had the choice, which would you choose of those 3 varieties (I'm assuming I should keep them in species pairs, but maybe not?)

Thank you for your help!

I don't know much about lavender or shaft but I do understand about zebras. Although cute , mine did irritate me. I have a fawn owl. He doesn't bother me any. He sounds like a little hyena . I don't have a female so can't tell you if having a pair will squawk more.

Thanks Madcat! I ended up getting the pair of Lavender Waxbills and they're absolutely amazing. They actually come closer to me on the side of the cage and have a lovely light chirp and the occasional longer high and low 2 toned song. I have only had them in my cage (on their own in there) for one day. I can't wait to get to know them better. They are quite a connected pair. They are always on the same branch or perch. It's sweet!

desertgirl

Hello, and welcome to the Forum.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't long tailed grass finches and Shaft Tails, one and the same species? So you already know what they sound like, so there is no need to go into that.

As in regards to Owl finches. The ones I have heared, make sort of a cross between a meow and a peep sound sound. If Zebras drove you around the bend, then I'm not so certain as to whether you'll enjoy their sounds.

The Lavenders, I've only heared on the Lavender finch site. From what I can make out, their sounds are fairly soft and inoffensive

You can google a certain species on the internet, as in-- Owl Finch sounds--- and listen and watch little videos of your favorite species to help you decide whose song/sound would sit better with you.

Have you considered the Gouldian Finch, which has a very soft whispering song?

Good luck with your decision.

desertgirl , i think you'd be better to wait until more experienced before getting Lavenders as waxbills tend to require live food especially if breeding,

I also find the Zebra finch beeping very annoying so i don't keep any, I've alot of owl finches at moment between adult pairs and young birds and don't find their calls in the least bit annoying, Like the lavenders, owls don't tend to tolerate frost so will need to be kept indoors or in a heated birdroom


The Shaft tails are the hardiest of the birds you mention but can be a bit unpredictable if you plan on housing them in a mixed species avairy at a latter stage.

I have had owls now for a few years. They are housed outside and even in the dead of winter they are out in the snow playing. I have a coop that they can get into that I used to heat to 55 degrees F but last winter turned the heat off and they do fine. They have to be acclimated to the colder temperatures over time but do very well. I don't find their calls annoying, zebra drive me bonkers.
Good idea to go on the internet and listen to a few recordings of the birds your considering.

good luck and please let us know which you decided on

desertgirl Like Padraic said, The lavender waxbills need extra care, because they need livefood as well. They are also supposedly aggressive. You get 2 kinds of shafttails, Heck's grassfinch and the Long-tailed grassfinch. Visually they look the same except the long-tailed grassfinch has a yellow beak and the Heck's a red beak. From the photo's that I have seen of the American stock, it looks like there are no pure blooded stock of these stock. They are so interbred that it is just one species. The same can be said on the shafttails in South Africa where I live, though some breeders are selling the pure strains at premium prices. Shafttails can be aggressive towards other birds.