Long Tailed Grass Finch (Poephila acuticauda)

Common Name: Long Tailed Grass Finch
Scientific Name: Poephila acuticauda
Background: Mixed Ages.
Origin: Northern Australia (Across top of Western Australia, Northern Territory and a small part of Queensland)
Description: Common Australian Finch, also called the Hex Finch
Requirements: A very adaptable species. Will breed well in a wide range of sizes of aviaries or as one pair in a large indoor cage.  May be suitable in a mixed species collection but do best as a colony in a large planted aviary.  3 breeding pairs in a planted aviary should give good results.
Size: 6 - 6.5 inches
Life Span: 7 -9 Years
Suitability: BEGINNER - INTERMEDIATE
Diet: A good quality finch mix, seeding grasses and some green leafy vegetables such as endive, silverbeet or cos lettuce. Live food is beneficial throughout the year and essential at breeding season. Mealworms and small crickets are commonly used. Sprouted or soaked seed if available. Basic seed mix should include Canary seed, White French Millet, Japanese Millet, and Yellow and Red Panicum. The Long tailed Grassfinch drinks by sucking.  Most finches scoop up the water but the Long tailed finch and a few other finches suck up the water.