Aussie Finch Forum

I tried splitting a cage into 3 sections, and placing a bird in each. I'm glad I did this in my room, not outside, as each of the damn little buggers escaped 4 times!!
I had venetian blinds, so fairly simple to let the birds fly to the blinds, go through and hop around on the windowsill, close the blind, and catch them.

slippery little buggers

I recommend you buy a few pairs (6 birds) and watch them. I live in the Kimberley and regularly have these finches visit my bird feeder. I can determine the males as they have a darker and broader "bar" on thier breast. However this is easier seen when a female is close by for reference. I can also sex the Chestnut Breasted Mannikins this way.

We got two pairs, I will be watching them. The dealer sexed them by the size of the head, as well as the colour of the plumage (grey vs cream). I have read that the width of the bars is not always accurate. I have noticed that 3 of the birds have thicker bars, but they are supposed to be 2 cocks and two hens. I noticed one is ringed, not sure about the others, that might help us tell them apart a bit better as we get to observe them.

Seems to be that there is no real way to sex them apart from buying a heap and letting them pair off , Ive heard breeders sexing them by colour , bar width , head size and dark patch on head ....

that's it, I reckon. there isn't a way to difinitively sex them without DNA or surgical methods.

The males sit all day having a drink and the females hen peck and chase him home.Keep a close watch you will see

oops I mean nah really

I heard also that the male will stand taller than the hen when perched

Right, cock, bigger headband straight shape and more intense color
Left, hen, smaller, (c-shape) bent headband