Table of Contents

Why I Adore My Finch     5
What's a Finch?
Physical Characteristics
Temperament and Behavior
Finches in the Wild
Some Common Finches in Aviculture
The Stuff of Everyday Life     19
Indoor Cage
Indoor Aviary
Bird Room
Furnishings and Accessories
Substrate
Dishes, Cups, and Bowls
Seed Catchers
Cage Covers
Lighting
Heaters
Nest Boxes
Natural Fun
Hospital Cages
Outdoor Aviary
Keeping It Clean
Storing Food
Eating Well     41
Proper Nutrition
Wild Diet
Pellets Versus Seed
Bird Seed
Fruits and Vegetables
Sprouted Seeds
Eggs
Cooking for Your Birds
Live Food
Greens
Vitamins and Minerals
Water
Summing Up
Looking Good     57
Feathers
Bathing
Dust Baths
Ant Baths
Sunbathing
Preening
Plucking
Molting
Less Stress
Better Health
Feeling Good     69
Feeling Good
What Makes Finches Sick?
How to Know When Your Finch Is Sick
How to Examine Finch Droppings
Emergency First Aid
Getting Your Finch to the Vet
What to Do if Your Finch Dies
Common Finch Ailments
What About Bird Flu?
Fantasic Finches     85
Why Breed?
A Single Pair or an Aviary?
Distinguishing Pairs
Pairing Up
Nesting
Egg Laying
Hatching
Growing Up
Showing Finches
Banding and Record Keeping
The Wide World of Finches     97
European Goldfinch
Green Singing Finch
Java Sparrow
Orange-Cheeked Waxbill
Orange Weaver
Owl Finch
Red-Bellied FireFinch
Shaft-Tail Finch
Strawberry Finch
Tri-Colored Munia
Conclusion
Resources     108
Index     110