Been Bitten by the Finch Bug ! Male or Female pls ?!

01 Apr 2012, 17:47

Just wondering if anyone can tell by sight if these are male or what ?
Bought 2 longtail finches from local pet shop recently, had had my eye on some for a few weeks but ummed and ahhed - when i went back i found the last two quite badly plucked around the head and felt so bad for them that i bought them ( idiot ) but lucky i asked for a discount coz one died three days later. So i wanted a friend for the remaining longtail. Other pet shop had two mannekin finches for sale - so i bought them , sold to me as both male. I dont know how to sex them, but of a morning when i lift up their cover i find the longtail plus one mannekin camped in seed dishes ?? Also, bought two orange breasted finches at the same time ( couldnt help myself ! ) - also sold to me as both male.
Anyone offer an opinion by sight ??

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01 Apr 2012, 17:51

Bengos - no idea
Longtail - I'll go for hen by the look of the long thinish bib
OBs - definite both cocks

01 Apr 2012, 17:53

Those Orange Breasted Finches look unreal.

Harv

01 Apr 2012, 17:53

judging by the bib on the longtail its male , the ob look male but as for the bengalese / manikins its too hard from this point , need to take a pic with the heads side by side..... pete

01 Apr 2012, 18:00

As much as I hate to do it I must agree with poitta Male Long tail both Ob's male and Bengos listen and watch for crowing

01 Apr 2012, 18:09

Buzzard-1 wrote:As much as I hate to do it I must agree with poitta Male Long tail both Ob's male and Bengos listen and watch for crowing

Lol, I should know better than to believe what they tell me at the pet shop !! They couldnt even tell the difference between a female and male GOULDIAN when they are visually dismorphic !!!
I'm not really worried as to what sex these new birds are, just wanting to know WHAT they are for when i am buying more birds in the future. I desperately want some more longtails - they have such a unique bird call.
Thanks for input !!!

BluJay · 01 Apr 2012, 18:19

@Jewell, thanks for sharing the photo's, I like all the birds in the pictures shared. I miss the societies, because of their courious happy go lucky dispostion - the shafttails and their ways, but the orange breasted are so tiny and beautiful. I really came to miss them - when I stopped by a person's home in Cardiff, that was closing out his aviaries, he had one pair left that made me miss them, and now yours make me want them. Good luck with them - you have some pretty birds!

01 Apr 2012, 18:31

G,day jewel,didnt you post that the seller sold the birds to you as males,as far as i can tell from the photos you got what you paid for,and from a pet shop they look very good ,seen much worse,enjoy garyh

01 Apr 2012, 18:37

BluJay wrote:@Jewell, thanks for sharing the photo's, I like all the birds in the pictures shared. I miss the societies, because of their courious happy go lucky dispostion - the shafttails and their ways, but the orange breasted are so tiny and beautiful. I really came to miss them - when I stopped by a person's home in Cardiff, that was closing out his aviaries, he had one pair left that made me miss them, and now yours make me want them. Good luck with them - you have some pretty birds!

Wow !! So one species has a fair few names then ?! ( MANNEKIN = bengalese / societies )
I havent been into finches long, and all feedback is very interesting and appreciated. But they really grow on you and i cant just stop at one !!
Yes, the OB's are so small and dainty that i was worried they might squeeze through the bars on the cage so i am keeping them inside !! Which is justifiable - due to their beauty !!

01 Apr 2012, 18:42

garyh wrote:G,day jewel,didnt you post that the seller sold the birds to you as males,as far as i can tell from the photos you got what you paid for,and from a pet shop they look very good ,seen much worse,enjoy garyh

Yup, that they were: but i was just asking coz after seeing the mannekin every morning sleeping in a seed dish i started to wonder......
Maybe the seed dish is just more comfy than a perch.
Also, the longtails were sold to me as both female - but two replies have been that the remaining one is male ???
I would like to think they know what they are selling but cant say i have much faith in them and as such i would prefer the knowlegde of fellow forum members.