Longtail Grass Finch feeding Painted Fledgelings

14 Oct 2024, 07:14

I have not seen this before and was wondering how common it might be…I just had four painted finches leave the nest and one of my LGFs is doing most of the feeding of the young with some assistance from the painted cock bird. I am guessing this is not unheard of but how common a phenomenon. I have not experienced it before.

14 Oct 2024, 09:13

Yes it's very common occurrence with many species feeding others fledglings in a mixed collection. Their maternal instinct kicks in for some reason especially when they are non breeding birds at the time.

14 Oct 2024, 10:22

Like Craig says.
Particularly with a bird who is in condition and either does not have a mate, or who's mate is not in condition.

14 Oct 2024, 21:35

Thanks for confirming/clarifying. Interesting. My LGFs look in good (healthy) shape but have not bred yet. Hopefully that will change.

15 Oct 2024, 09:35

Are the longtails a proven pr. They are very hard to sex and might be two males or two females

15 Oct 2024, 16:16

I was pretty confident but not proven unless thy reproduce right? lol. They appear to me (and others) to be based on bib, and other visuals but will check them again now they are a bit older and maybe even bite the bullet and take a feather for DNA testing. They have built a good nest and both have been visiting/spending time in it. I have left them to be and have not checked for eggs as yet. They behave differently too but with this current development (first time) I am again having doubts. I was thinking a lack of live food might be the problem (I will be addressing this) but maybe a DNA test required? Cheers.

15 Oct 2024, 18:28

Does one of them display and sing

The nest they build out breeding season is a roosting nest. Check the nest and see if they have eggs if not get them dna tested.

17 Oct 2024, 06:37

Thanks Craig, I checked on them today. The nest has two eggs and one of them (so at least I have a hen) the other (vocal and somewhat bossy) has built a second nest and is the one feeding the painted young I had ID’d as the cock. As I was in Japan I don’t know the exact dates but I will give them another week and see what transpires. On the upside the painted young are going great guns with the continual feeding from Dad and LGF and the painted hen has gone done again so hasn’t disrupted them at all. Thanks for the advice.