Senegal Fire Finch males

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:46 am

I'm wondering if both my male Fire Finches are actually Senegals.

The new male's beak is much longer and comes to a much sharper point and does not have the dark line down the middle of his upper mandible. And when he turns his head sideways, I can see through his beak - it doesn't close 100%.

In comparison the other male's beak is more rounded at the tip, shorter and has a very dark line down the middle. Any thoughts?

New Fire Finch- with longer/sharper beak

Other Fire Finch- with dark line and more rounded beak

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:02 am

They look exactly the same except for the beak. I noticed his longer beak when you first posted the pic. I wonder if Phoenix just needs a beak trim and the black could just be an age thing or something?

Renee

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:08 am

Thanks Renee. We're on the same wavelength, as that's exactly what I was thinking about the black line colouring - except I was told that the second (Phoenix) that I just got last week (with no or very little black on his beak) is about 2 years old; and first one I got (with the dark line) as a pair in December was about 1 year old. His mate also has the dark line on her beak.

And I also thought the second (Phoenix) might just need something to rub his beak against and I've put a cement perch in his quarantine cage.

Rayray · Post by **Rayray** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:17 am

no worries Liz ,
its a senegal fire finch , this family has as far they know 9 sub species living from south to west africa with a little difference in color and size , for us amateurs its very hard to see what kinda sub species we have .

the same thing is going on with the sint helena's , the most deep and sharp colors are the ones from west africa , the ones we still can get are the ones from portugal or spain ( illegal catch ) they missing the deep colors and stripes and are a little smaller .

just take a look at flickr.com and search for pics from fires or sint helena's
and you will see the difference .

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:21 am

Thanks for the confirmation Ray. I just don't want to cross-breed and create any hybrids.

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:26 am

Look at your firefinch babies with the black beaks. Maybe they mature more slowly then other finches and takes more time to lose the black completely. Would make sense that Phoenix 2 is older and thus has no black anymore. Just my thoughts anyway

Mick where are ya? LOL

Renee

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:36 pm

Sorry I couldn't help you but you sure got some great comments on this Liz. Nice pictures!

Rayray · Post by **Rayray** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 7:39 am

after another check : its defenately a Senegal fire finch , both have the red in the top and bottum of the beak , when you have a cross breed the bottum beak will always show you partly / whole grey

lucky you

Ray

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:42 am

Oh that's good to know - thank you, Ray!

Okay one more question (there's always one more...) -

On the newest Fire Finch (the first picture above) - on top of his beak is a bump. It's on the left side in the picture (on the birds right side of the beak). I can edit the pic and put an arrow in to show it more but you should be able to see the bump. It looks hard like a seed but is not a seed (it also looks almost like acne on a human but it appears hard). Any ideas? Should I try to scrape it off? I'm thinking leave it alone as he does not seem aware of it.

Can you see it there?

Rayray · Post by **Rayray** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:52 am

sometimes with little parrots you have the same problem , in like 80% it is caused by a larve ( harmless ) thats in the beak , for the little parrots we used vaseline to close / cover the little bump ( if there's a larve inside it will die ) cos there's no air coming in ! its worth to try and won't hurt your bird , aslong you keep the nose opening open

Ray

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 9:00 am

Oh wow - ew but I can understand it. I'll catch him up tonight and cover it with vaseline while making sure to not cover his nostril opening.

How often should the vaseline be re-applied? Would it last a few days then be re-applied... maybe twice a week?

Rayray · Post by **Rayray** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 9:06 am

each day for like 2 or 3 days would be enough , vaseline won't go off even he takes a bath .
on the other hand i am not a vet so if this won't help , and you don't feel okay with the little bump better see a real vet !!

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 9:12 am

I understand about not being a vet - I don't think anyone on here is but good advice is always appreciated. I'll try the vaseline for a few days to a week and see what happens.

Thank you, Ray. You've been such a help!

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 5:53 pm

So Liz.... did you vaseline the little one? Curious, how did that go?

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 6:00 pm

I did Vaseline him, Donna - Friday night, Saturday afternoon and this morning. Saturday when I caught him up - I guess he banged his beak against a bar in the cage as his beak bled from that 'bump', but just a very tiny bit; and hasn't bled since. Still looks about the same. I'll do it again when I get home tommorrow evening.

He's very funny about being caught. He flies and flies trying to evade my hand, naturally and lets out a funny call. But once he is in my hand he is quiet and when I'm done and put my hand holding him back into his cage and I open my hand to release him, he just sits there for a while. One of my male Gouldians does the same thing sitting in my hand after I open it to release him - but he was quite calm about being caught up too... almost tame. I doubt Phoenix is tame.