African Silverbill
Common Names:
Warbling finch
Description
The African Silverbill may seem “plain” to some, but its varied shades of brown, tan, buff, fawn and black both blend and contrast, lending this 4 inch-long mite a unique beauty.
The head and back are a yellowish brown, while the rump and upper tail coverts are black, the rest of the tail is blackish brown as are the wings, the breast, sides, and belly are a pale yellow brown; the beak and eyelids are silver.
Sexing:
Sexes look similar, but only cock birds will sing.
Origin:
Africa and the Middle East
Lifespan: approx. 7 years
Diet
Silverbills will prefer the larger seeds of a parakeet mix to the smaller seeds commonly found in most finch mixes. They like the large white prosso almost exclusively and will leave the canary and oats groats behind in the mix.
Breeding season:
In the wild, African Silverbills start breeding during the second half of the rainy season, though they may also breed during the dry season.
Egg Colour:White.
Clutch/sper year:2 - 3.
Eggsper nest: 2 - 4.
Incubationapprox:11 - 12 days.
Fledgeapprox:21 days.
Independentapprox: another 3 - 4 weeks.
Housing
African Silverbills adapt well to standard finch cages, but should always be provided with as much room as possible. Outdoor aviaries are a great option, especially given that they mix well with other small, peaceful finches and softbills.
Before you buy any pet
- Ask for the vaccination card and match the dates against the animal's stated age.
- Ask to see both parents if the seller is a breeder. A refusal is an answer.
- Video call before you travel. Ask the seller to walk around the animal on camera.
- Never pay a deposit to hold an animal you have not seen in person.
