by Rex Trulove

Created on: November 05, 2008

Almost from the moment you walk into a pet store that has finches, you will know it. The bright cheerful songs these little birds sing are almost enough to make you think of spring regardless of the time of year. You'll quickly see that they are also active birds, seeming to spill over with energy.

There are several kinds of finches commonly kept as pet birds. Most are quite small, but a few, such as domesticated red or purple finches, can be medium sized birds a little larger than a house sparrow. Not all are colorful, but most are. Males tend to be more colorful than females and the genders can usually be identified by this trait.

Male red finches already mentioned are usually brown and gray birds with reddish or purple shading on the heads, shoulders, and necks. Zebra finches are among the most colorful as well as being one of the smaller breeds. All breeds eat seeds, though they will occasionally take small insects and enjoy fruit once in a while.

When keeping finches, consideration must be given to the breed. The smaller the breed, the more active they will tend to be. This is important when considering cage size. A larger species of finch requires a larger cage, even though they aren't quite as active. But several small finches will also need the space to flit around in.

Another consideration in regard to cage size is the number of birds that will be kept. With zebra finches, a male and two or three females will usually happily cohabitate a moderate sized cage.

Finches will often not spend a lot of time on the bottom of the cage, since they prefer roosts that are higher up. They will often even cling to the sides of the cage. Having plenty of perching posts for them to hold onto will be helpful for them. Placing a gnarled piece of wood in the cage can be visually appealing while also allowing the birds something to perch on.

If you have a male and some female finches, nest boxes can be provided. Finches breed easily in captivity, and pet stores sell nest boxes specifically for finches. These are enclosed, as the females will feel more protected.

Like most birds, finches also require fresh clean water. Checking it and filling it daily isn't a big task, and it helps to keep the birds healthy.

Finches are primarily seedeaters, and the smaller finches, while having a stout beak, do best on smaller seeds. However quality seed is important. Energy requirements for small birds is usually higher than those for larger birds, which means the finches need to have plenty

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