Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
When we think of tame birds, it is most often the parrots and mynas that come to mind. Canaries and other finches, on the other hand, are largely thought of as pets to enjoy for their bright colors, active ways and cheerful songs. To a great extent, these perceptions hold true…but not [...]
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Spring, slow as it may seem in arriving this very cold winter, is on its way. Here on the outskirts of NYC I’ve already heard the songs of cardinals and song sparrows (both on February 19th) and, while I’ve not had the chance to check, it is likely that the red-winged blackbirds [...]
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
The claws of most pet birds require occasional trimming, and there are a few special considerations that should be kept in mind concerning certain groups.
The Adaptive Value of Long, Twisted Claws
Some birds that frequent grasslands and marshy habitats grow long, twisted claws as an adaptation to perching upon reeds and grasses (there’s [...]
Please see Part I of this article for general information and notes concerning other species.
Spectacled or White-Fronted Amazon Parrot, Amazona albifrons albifrons
Reaching only 11 inches in length and hailing from Mexico and Central America, this smallest of the Amazons is also the most affordable of the group. This may be in part to its somewhat [...]
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Last time I highlighted the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, the nation’s oldest wildlife survey. Although it is easy for one to become involved, the count is run only at a specific time. If you are a casual birder, or even someone who only occasionally takes notice of our avian neighbors, [...]
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
In their natural habitats, canaries and other birds learn their species’ songs by listening to the singing of their parents and neighboring birds. The process starts when they are still in the nest, and, with most birds, ends once the adult song is mastered.
Learning From Other Species
Canaries, mockingbirds, starlings and some others [...]
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Natural History
Known by a variety of common names, the nuns, mannikins and munias are among the most popularly-kept finches. Thirty five to fifty species (their taxonomy is in flux) of these little seed-eaters range throughout Africa, Asia and Australia, often forming huge flocks outside of the breeding season. Their behavior within these [...]
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Please see Part I of this article for additional information.
Natural History
Ranging from the southern Himalayas to eastern China and south into Myanmar, Pekin robins are largely birds of high-altitudes. They frequent forest underbrush and clearings on mountainsides, and are rarely seen out in the open. They will also forage on farms and [...]
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Although people have been raising and breeding granivorous birds on seeds for decades, it is now well-established that pellets offer a more reliable method of assuring that a balanced diet is consumed.
Pellet-based diets are more important for some types of birds than for others. Finches, for example, tend to eat most of [...]
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Overly-dry indoor air is a common throughout much of the US, particularly in the colder months when naturally arid air and house-heating systems are both at work. Bird and human skin can suffer as a result. Daily misting of your pets can help, but in some cases it might be wise to [...]
