7 replies to this topic

[djgravity88]

This bird showed up in my back yard today. It hung out for about 10 minutes and was not phased by us being there or getting close. It may be an escaped pet? Anyways it appears to be a baby so I'm having a hard time identifying it. I am in South Florida and have not seen anything quite like it before. After doing some research I believe it could be a lost Grassquit, but why so young? This bird was only about 3 inches from tip to tail. Anyways, that's my details. See the lousy photos I have below

 IMG_3864.JPG   721.53K   37 downloads
 IMG_3865.JPG   241.36K   50 downloads
 IMG_3863.JPG   475.96K   39 downloads

[fisherman1313]

Looks like a young Society Finch, a species that does not occur naturally in the wild. The species was selectively bred in captivity, in Asia, and has been around for so long that nobody is exactly sure of its lineage.

[djgravity88]

I think you hit the nail on the head. Thanks so much!

[BarnSwallow]

Why do you say it's a baby? I don't see anything that makes me think it's not an adult.

[featherbrains]

If it is a society finch, buy some millet (finches LOVE those sprays of millet you can buy in pet stores) or canary seed and leave it out for it - otherwise it will likely starve as it's not acclimated to American food sources.

[fisherman1313]

Why do you say it's a baby? I don't see anything that makes me think it's not an adult.

The posture and short tail, plus, the bill looks stubby in the second pic. I don't see any evidence of the gape, but I used to breed them and this bird looks a lot like the recently fledged birds I had every season.

[Liam]

I used to breed finches as well, but this doesn't look like a juvenile finch to me. They're more compacted with stubbier bills; they're small, but fat-looking. Plus they show the yellow gape. The first Society Finches were White-rumped Munias, but the breed has evolved much.
If it's in the wild, I wouldn't expect it to be a juvenile anyway. A domestic bird released into the wild at such a young age is unlikely to survive.

[fisherman1313]

Could be a recent escapee. I had a couple of occasions where I opened the door to my aviary, not seeing a fledging sitting just inside the door and the little buggers would make their escape. One made it all the way onto my neighbor's roof.