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DESCRIPTION 5 inches (12cm). Scarlet-orange forehead, chin and throat. Rest of head grey, underside grey with white streaks and spots. Olive chest, wings and back, blackish tail. Eyes brown, beak scarlet, legs brown. Hen duller, lacks red, has grey head.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION Africa, south of the Sahara.
HABITAT Melba Finch likes thorny thickets.
DIET The Melba Finch needs Seeds, vitamins, minerals and, especially during breeding season, insects.
SPECIAL NEEDS Prevent pairs from throwing young out of nest by feeding rich variety of insects and small seeds. Usually aggressive towards other birds, so keep only one pair in community aviary.
CAGE LIFE Male has soft, sweet song. After acclimatization (at about 77°F/25°C, and no green foods for at least 3 weeks), can be housed in indoor, well-planted, sunny aviary. Outside aviary suitable only during hot summer months. Spends a lot of time on ground looking for small insects and spiders. Builds a little domed nest in small bush, seldom uses commercial nest box. Lays 3 to 4 eggs, incubation 12 days by both parents, fledging 20 to 21 days. Both parents rear, but often after 2 to 3 days throw their young out of the nest.
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