Do Finches of Different Varieties Breed?

[Dinodadog]

I'm so sorry for asking this ignorant question. It's just that I know nothing about finches yet and couldn't find this answer anywhere.

[jusdeb]

yep they can and they do ....sorry dont know which breeds do but look at the bengalese they are a mish mash of many varieties.

[E Orix]

People look at birds as just all related but this is far from it.
Birds are grouped the same as say animals
Cats; Lions, Leopards and Tigers
Munias,Tri Coloured Nuns,Yellow Rumps, Silver Nuns etc.
Bovine; Cows ,Buffalo etc
Waxbills,St Helena , Cordon Blue etc
Cats won't breed with Bovines( Cows and Cats won't breed together)
but Lion and Tiger can and have
Same applies to the birds Munias won't cross with waxbills,but will inter breed readily.
Chickens will not breed with Ducks or Geese
They all have feathers as animals have hair.
You do get hybrids but some are both fertile (Bengalese),some are both infertile(Horse and Donkey) and some are half fertile either male is and female not or reverse. and example is Red Siskin/ Canary produce what is called an F1 Males are fertile females are sterile and these crosses were the basis of the Red factor Canary of today.
I hope this explains it as I am not a scholar.

[Diane]

I have read that Blue faced parrot finches and Gouldians can hybridize.
Found this link for those who want a look at the resulting inter-species breeding, not my cup of tea.

http://users.skynet.be/fa398872/pfhybrid.htm

[Mickp]

there is no ignorant question, we all had to start somewhere. wish these forums had been avaialble when I began bird keeping.
so feel free to ask any bird related question that you feel the need to.
would make it easier to answer your question if you could tell us what type of birds you have

[Dinodadog]

Thanks for replies guys, really appreciate the friendliness of the site.

[Pete Sara]

what type of birds are they that you have , so we can tell you if they may inter breed or not.....pete

[Diane]

Orange breasts and strawberries can hybridize too. From what I have been told as long as you have a pair they will stick with each other its only a possible problem if you get a spare of each species.