The Finch Lover Listserv Collection

Determining the Sex of Silverbills


(or Sexing Silverbill Finches)

 The following messages were posted to the Finchlover Listserv and were chosen for archival because of the excellent quality of the information provided.

Topic: "Sexing African Silverbills" posted by Jim (3/18/01)

Question Presented: 

I bought 8 African Silverbills recently. They look like juveniles. They are
small but one of them warbles. The others are silent. Either there are
seven hens or juveniles require to be of a certain age before they can warble.

Can anyone tell me at what age African Silverbills start warbling please?

Response:

Hello William,

I have had them warbling and revealing their sex a few weeks after leaving the nest, but in the main they are usually singing after the first moult at 3 to 4 months.... But if you have a cage of 8 birds it's not unusual for only one or two to actually sing, this is a dominance thing I guess, try removing the singing
birds to another cage and in a day or two another (if there is one) will probably begin singing.


All the Best Jim
_______________________________________________________
Just Bengalese,(Society Finches) All aspects of their Care & Breeding
A Bird-keepers Guide to Mannikins and Munias (The Lonchura)
And The Pages of The National Bengalese Fanciers Association (UK)
Can all be found at : http://www.pop.dircon.co.uk/