What kind of finch is this?

AngieCort68 · Post by **AngieCort68** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 5:43 pm

I was told these are Indigo Finches but I can't find any info on them. Please help identify them.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:16 pm

that is a Senegal Combassou pair, a parasitic finch.

I saw them at the shows...the male changes color.

a previous post on them
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 52&start=0

read to Dario's reply...you will need a pair of fire finch if you are to breed them.

also.. http://www.upatsix.com/chats/finch-and- ... 94455.html

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:21 pm

Yep, people call them different things... I thought you had some sort of whydahs from another post

They are pretty but they can be aggressive so if you put them with other birds watch them closely!
http://www.birdsexpress.net/combassou-f ... obird.html

AngieCort68 · Post by **AngieCort68** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:28 pm

What does it mean a parisitic finch? Do they always carry parasites? If so can it be controlled or treated? Please help.

Ursula · Post by **Ursula** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:36 pm

AngieCort68 wrote:What does it mean a parisitic finch? Do they always carry parasites? If so can it be controlled or treated? Please help.

Parasitic means they lay their eggs in another birds nest and they raise their babies for them.

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

For example, in the U.S. the cow birds are parasitic birds. And the cockoo in Europe...

That's why Cindy said you would need firefinches if you would want to breed them.

AngieCort68 · Post by **AngieCort68** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:06 pm

Parasitic means they lay their eggs in another birds nest and they raise their babies for them.

OMG!!!LOL!!!!

I thought they were carriers of some parasite!!!!
Jeez. I was so worried. Thanks for the clarification.
Now I can go back to enjoying them.
Thanks for the help.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:08 pm

Angie, the male looks beautiful in the sunlight...I saw these at Orlando and at an outdooor show, the sun makes the black look so "blue"/indigo. Enjoy them!

tt101 · Post by **tt101** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:59 pm

hahah this answers my question on your other post, they look beautiful and good luck if you choose to breed them. im sure these are auite rare or hard to find.
congrats

Dayna · Post by **Dayna** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:13 pm

cindy wrote:that is a Senegal Combassou pair, a parasitic finch.

I saw them at the shows...the male changes color.

a previous post on them
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 52&start=0

read to Dario's reply...you will need a pair of fire finch if you are to breed them.

also.. http://www.upatsix.com/chats/finch-and- ... 94455.html

Just curious as to why you need fire finches to breed them? Is it because the fire finch uses the same type of nest?

Post by **finchmix22** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:17 pm

They lay their eggs in the fire's nest and let the fire finches raise the young. How about that for parenting? LOL.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:24 pm

Some whydahs use the St Helena nests to leave their eggs in. They get the benefit of thier species living on without the work!!! The St Helenas and Fire finch are like the surrogates!

PrettyBird · Post by **PrettyBird** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:27 pm

cindy wrote:that is a Senegal Combassou pair, a parasitic finch.

I saw them at the shows...the male changes color.

a previous post on them
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 52&start=0

read to Dario's reply...you will need a pair of fire finch if you are to breed them.

also.. http://www.upatsix.com/chats/finch-and- ... 94455.html

"the male changes color"...so does that mean she has two males?
the brown one appears to be changing to indigo..

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:33 pm

http://www.birdsexpress.net/combassou-f ... obird.html
Candace posted this earlier...the females look sort of blotchy.

There was atopic thread in regards to the species...it is over a yr old...I'll see if I can find it.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:41 pm

This topic thread has a lot of info
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... sou#p77825

one of our memebers, Domenic wrote"
"If you want to know more about the species in general some quick info would be:

•Females are a sandy brown color year-round.
•Males change color in the breeding season from brown to blue/black. Johnboy said they can stay black for 9 months out of the year.
•This species is parasitic. They lay their eggs in senegal firefinch nests and I've read that they are very tolerant of the firefinches."
Here are the links to the threads concerning combassous:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7691&hilit=combassou
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7087&hilit=combassou
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3552&hilit=combassou

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