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DESCRIPTION 5'/4 inches (13cm). Resembles Cut-Throat Finch - body light fawn, feathers marked with black bars, chocolate underside, grey tail, whitish throat with red band on front of neck - but male's entire head is dull red. Eyes brown, beak and legs pale. Female has a grey-brown head and duller underside.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION South Africa, north through to Angola.
HABITAT Open country with bushes, in colonies. Broods in tree holes, deserted weaver or sparrow nests, or buildings.
DIET Seeds, insects.
SPECIAL NEEDS Seldom builds its own nests. Advisable to house single pair in separate, roomy aviary or breeding cage so they can breed successfully in peace.
CAGE LIFE Uses half-open nest boxes. Lays 3 to 6 eggs, incubation 12 to 13 days by both sexes; during day male sits longer than female, both parents at night. If disturbed, parents may start a nest somewhere else, leaving the young to die. After two weeks the young males already have red on their heads. Fledging 23 to 25 days. Young able to reproduce after six months, but breeding should be restricted until at least 1 year old. This species has hybridized with the Cut-Throat Finch, and the hybrids are fertile.
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