Magpie Mannikin

Scientific Name: Amaurestbes fringilloides

Origin: South Africa and West Africa

This attractive large mannikin is very hardy and can remain outside all year round. It should be housed with larger birds or those who are aggressive and able to defend themselves, since it can be quarrelsome and has a heavy beak which can inflict injuries. A well snatched pair of Magpie Mannikins with similar markings often does well on the show bench.

Description:

Size: 10 to 13 cm (4 to 5 in)

COCK:

Head: black. Back, wings and tail: brown. Under parts: white. Beak: top mandible, black; lower mandible, grey. Legs: black.

HEN:

Alike. May not be sexed by appearance, so it is best to purchase several birds and allow them to pair themselves.

Diet: (Seedeater)

Plain canary seed and mixed millets form the basic diet. Spray millet is enjoyed. Green food is appreciated by certain Magpie Mannikins, but ignored by others. Grit and cuttlefish bone are essential.

Breeding:

Several pairs may be housed together in a large aviary for breeding purposes, since they are colony breeders in the wild. Odd birds should be removed.

Pairs construct a nest in open-fronted nest boxes or globular wicker baskets. They use whatever materials are available, including grasses, leaves and twigs forming an entrance passage into the nest.

Four to six eggs are laid and the bird stake turns in sitting for the 12-day incubation period. Chicks may be reared on dry seed alone, but sprouted seed should be provided with extra millet sprays, chopped mealworms, ants' eggs and soaked stale bread.

The young commence their juvenile molt at around 12 weeks of age, but often do not attain full adult plumage until they are one year of age.

Information on Magpie Mannikin

For pet owners the following information on Magpie Mannikin may help in bird care.

• The bird is essentially a perching breed. So, introduce some swinging perches in the cage where you would be keeping the bird as pet.
• You should develop the art of training birds. As this breed of bird is a messy eater and would make the cage untidy after every meal. So, tame them to eat properly and also keep the cage in a place from where it would be easy for you to clean the cage regularly.
• You are required to be patient enough to observe the activities of the bird and then develop a bonding in between you two.
• Keep your bird in a cage which is spacious as this breed spends most of the time inside the cage. The width of the cage is more important than the height. The bars must be spaced at proper intervals so that the bird may not escape outside. The cage must also be zinc and lead free.