Aussie Finch Forum

Are they like these?

Wow - that's an impressive start to a new form/mutation of star. I agree that the purported Star X Crimson is a doubtful classification but these birds of yours are worth working with. Don't lose them and keep selecting the best reds and you'll come up with a very impressive bird in a few generations.

crocnshas wrote:I think he means red robin,but yes i had them a few years ago but couldn't keep the red in the chest,each nest of young produced less and less red,i gave up in the end. Craig

Greg,as said in this earlier post,i gave up in the end.I have a feeling that the chap i got them from was feeding some sort of colour enhancing foods,not for finches but for the many softbills he had in the same huge aviary.It will be great to see the pics of Shaunh's. Craig

Pity the birds are gone now. So from what you said was the colour enhancement more painted on than incorporated into the feathers as in red-factor canaries?

GregH wrote:Pity the birds are gone now. So from what you said was the colour enhancement more painted on than incorporated into the feathers as in red-factor canaries?

What a "Peculiar"thing to say Greg,does the colour look painted on? Craig

Sorry I didn't mean to sound the doubting Thomas. I think that their colour is/was brilliant - I was surprised though that it only showed when colour fed as this species already has a lot of natural red carotenoid pigment in the face even on a seed only diet. Unfortunately without the birds studying the pigmentation can only be speculated at.

Thanks for the photos, Craig.
There's colour on the throat, too.
A shame they wouldn't breed for you....

I don't think colour feeding would explain this appearance.

Totally agree Greg and Matty,i was only speculating that it was the case.The red in the belly area is very wishy/washy so it looks like an induced colour but the red in the throat/neck area is the same as the head colour.It was a shame they wouldn't pass it on to the next generation. Craig

If birds have access to colour feed their total feathers tend to change not just in specific areas.
Prime example is if you colour feed a Greenfinch the yellows tend to change to orange even the green turns a slightly different shade.
I guess it would also depend on how much colour feed was given.
Diet can also have an impact on feather colour and this at times can be random areas.

crocnshas wrote:Are they like these?

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Seen this in Lutino Peachfaced Lovebirds, and even more intense, some having lots of red in them, i believe it was put down to a diet deficient in certain vitamins /minerals.
Bob