Finches Bird Breed Pictures,Characteristics, & Facts

Six percent of all bird parents keep finches—and yes, finches thrive when kept in pairs, Dr. Staudenmaier says. But to keep them from breeding, get two males or two females. Like canaries, finches can pretty much entertain themselves as long as you give them a wide cage to fly around in, such as the Prevue Pet Products Small Bird Flight Cage, and put it in a room where you hang out, like the family or living room, Dr. Staudenmaier says. To keep them stimulated, get foraging toys and materials for making nests (shredded paper works fine), she says. The Super Bird Creations Paper Party Bird Toy has bright, rolled paper sticks for birds to shred. Blanchette also recommends several small bowls for putting their food in so they can fly from bowl to bowl. The best foods for finches include pellet-based ones with some seeds mixed in, as well as greens like spinach, watercress and lettuce, Dr. Staudenmaier says. And get two bowls of water, she says—one for bathing, one for drinking, both of which you should change daily.

Also known as:

The three most common types of finches are society, Gouldian and zebra.

Average lifespan:

About 10 years max.

Social needs:

They’re gregarious birds, Dr. Staudenmaier says, so they do need the company of a (same-sex) mate. And while they don’t really need human interaction, they do like it when you’re in the same room watching their antics. Some finches can be trained to perch on their parents’ finger, she says, but in general they’re not that into human contact.

Talking ability:

They don’t talk but they’re very vocal. “Their vocalization sounds like they're gossiping about the humans. The beep, beep, beep, beep—I just think they're very appealing in that way,” says Blanchette.

Medical concerns:

Respiratory illnesses: Like canaries, finches have sensitive respiratory systems, so you want to keep them from cigarette smoke, air fresheners and other indoor pollutants, Dr. Staudenmaier says. And like most pet birds, Dr. Rolfe says, they’re susceptible to aspergillus infections. Mite infections: These are commonly caught before you bring your finches home, as these tiny blood-sucking arthropods are spread from bird to bird, Dr. Rolfe says. Some examples include air-sac mites, which cause finches to wheeze, or scaly face mites, which deform beaks and feet.