Golden Song Sparrows

[Jayburd]

Hi all,

I've been thinking about getting Golden Song Sparrows in my FINISHER lis of birds (probably a couple of years from now).
I have heard mixed things about songies. You probably know my aviary size by now, so would they fit? they would be in with a few other rarer finches (rufous back, blue caps) but nothing else yellow.
I have heard they are aggressive? is that true?

always good to get to know a species
anyway, I'm sure E Orix will be here shortly.

[E Orix]

Jayburd
As requested. No I wouldn't bother especially if I was trying to have a nice balanced mixed collection.
While they are quite attractive they do have their faults.
Even though they don't have the colour of the common Sparrow they still have their traits especially the unfortunate ones.
Big live food eaters especially when feeding chicks, they are boisterous especially during breeding season(when you have multiple pairs) and so on.
While I can't recall seeing them attack anything they will dominate and move smaller birds away.
I would much prefer a nice young pair of Green Singers any day. They are cup shape breeders so you can follow the progress of the nest contents each day without meddling where I am very reluctant to go anywhere near a S Sparrows nest.
Their nests are very very big and they will use sticks far bigger than any other birds I know.
They do have some good points but you really require a bigger aviary or one that has few birds in it. They are challenging though.

[Jayburd]

Ok cool. Thanks E Orix
Maybe I should try some Singers then have heard good things about them... there's an article on them in the latest Aviary Life, just off to read it